SAN DIEGO — Did you know the City of San Diego is the only city in California that doesn't charge a trash pick up fee for most single-family homes?
For more than 100 years, the city has provided free trash collection. Then, Measure B passed in 2022, allowing the city to charge a fee for trash and recycle pick up services.
The City of San Diego is working to draft a collection fee proposal by gathering public input and conducting a cost of service study. Open houses were held over the summer for residents to learn more about the proposed fee and give their two-cents.
Monday's community meeting at the Cathy Hopper Friendship Center revealed data collected from past meetings and an online survey. It found bulky pick up, frequent broken buns and hazardous material disposal were some of residents' biggest concerns. Some of their top requests were making it easier to replace broken containers and making it easier to recycle other items.
"All of this information is going to get rolled up into our presentation to Environment Committee and City Council early spring of 2025," Deputy Director of the City's Environmental Services Department said.
Also in the spring, affected residents will have a 45-day "protest period" to mail-in further feedback.
"If the majority of residents are still in favor of any proposed fees, it would then move forward to City Council providing final decisions, if any, June of 2025," Deleon said.
If costs are approved, monthly bills could start rolling out in July.
It's unclear how much people would pay, but there was focus at Monday's meeting on how much neighboring cities are charging. Carlsbad is charging about $28 to $31 per month, and Chula Vista charges between $23 and $35.