2024 Residential Solid Waste Rate Update FAQ
What services does the Solid Waste Management Division provide?
The Solid Waste Management Division (Division) is part of the City of Fresno’s Department of Public Utilities. The Division provides weekly solid waste, recycling, green waste and organic material collection services for approximately 119,000 residential accounts within the City of Fresno.
The Division also provides the following community benefits:
- Operation Clean Up which is the annual, curbside bulky items collection service
- Free Dump Days on six weekends per year at the Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station
- Litter control activities throughout the City, and
- Recycling education and outreach
Finally, the Division is also responsible for post-closure maintenance activities and projects at the Fresno Sanitary Landfill.
Why were the residential solid waste rates updated?
The Division’s operating expenses are primarily funded by customer user fees and charges for service to residents. Over the years, increasing costs have forced the Division to operate in a deficit since 2012, using operating reserves and postponing vehicle purchases and other capital improvements to make up the difference.
A rate update was necessary to reestablish the Division’s financial health to cover today’s operational costs and restore the operating reserves fund. The Division is committed to providing relatable residential solid waste collection and disposal services to residential customers, but it cannot continue to operate in an financial deficit.
When was the last time the residential solid waste rates were updated?
The last residential solid waste rate plan was adopted by the Fresno City Council in February 2007, and this rate update was implemented in September 2009 – more than 14 years ago.
When will the rate update take effect?
The Department of Public Utilities is implementing a gradual rate adjustment over a 5-year period beginning on July 1, 2024. The rate for each service level would adjust gradually on July 1 each year until July 2028.
What are the new residential solid waste rates?
The Department of Public Utilities is implementing a gradual rate adjustment over a 5-year period beginning on July 1, 2024. The new rate for the Basic service level is $30.87 per month. The new alternative service level rate is 28.12. The rate for each service level would adjust gradually on July 1 each year until July 2028.
| Basic Service Level | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96-Gallon Solid Waste Service | $30.87 | $35.30 | $38.70 | $41.99 | $45.24 |
 | $ Change | $4.63 | $3.20 | $3.29 | $3.25 |
The Division offers the Alternate service level of 96-gallon carts for green waste/organics and recycling and a 64-gallon cart for trash. The alternate service is $28.12 per month. The following table shows the updated rates for the next five years. Each rate change will take effect on July 1 of the respective year.
| Alternate Service Level | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64-Gallon Solid Waste Service | $28.12 | $32.34 | $35.25 | $38.25 | $41.21 |
 | $ Change | $4.22 | $2.91 | $3.00 | $2.96 |
City of Fresno residential waste customers can request additional carts for use at their homes. The following table shows the current monthly charges for additional carts and the updated rate for each additional cart.
| Additional Carts | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64-Gallon Trash Cart (Gray) | $5.50 | $6.33 | $6.90 | $7.49 | $8.07 |
 | $ Change | $0.83 | $0.57 | $0.59 | $0.58 |
| 96-Gallon Trash Cart (Gray) | $8.26 | $9.50 | $10.36 | $11.24 | $12.11 |
 | $ Change | $1.24 | $0.86 | $0.88 | $0.87 |
| 96-Gallon Recycling Cart (Blue) | $3.47 | $3.99 | $4.35 | $4.72 | $5.09 |
 | $ Change | $0.52 | $0.36 | $0.37 | $0.37 |
| 96-Gallon Organics Cart (Green) | $4.95 | $5.69 | $6.20 | $6.73 | $7.25 |
 | $ Change | $0.74 | $0.51 | $0.53 | $0.52 |
How does the updated rate compare to other cities in the state?
Even with the rate update, Fresno’s residential solid waste rates remain among the lowest in California and are comparable to rate for surrounding Central Valley cities. According to rate information collected in May 2023, Fresno’s current rates are significantly less than the cities of Madera, Clovis, and Selma, and are approximately half the monthly rate of Merced, Modesto and Stockton.
How will the rate update benefit me?
The proposed rate update will enable the Division to continue to provide weekly collection services to residential customers. It will also allow the Division to continue offering bulky item pickup, controlling litter, and investing in sustainable initiatives like recycling programs and waste reduction efforts.
Finally, the proposed rate update will allow the Division to consider expanding services, which could include adding bulky items pickup by appointment once the financial situation improves.
What specific costs have increased since the last rate update?
The following costs have increased since the 2009 rate update, which was based on a rate study completed in early 2007:
- Landfill disposal fees, also known as tipping fees
- Fuel
- Staff wages and benefits
- Collection vehicles
- Service support vehicles
- Maintenance of vehicles and equipment
- Collection carts
- Additional post-closure regulatory compliance activities at the Fresno Sanitary Landfill
What else has changed since the last rate update?
In 2012, the City eliminated the commercial solid waste program for businesses and multi-family residential properties, leaving the Division responsible for service to 103,000 residential customers. Today, the Division serves approximately 119,000 accounts, which is a 16% increase. The volume of residential waste has also increased. For the current fiscal year that just ended on June 30, 2023, the Division hauled and disposed of approximately 255,000 tons of waste, which is an increase of approximately 13% since 2012.
What are the post-closure regulatory activities at the Fresno Sanitary Landfill?
The Fresno Sanitary Landfill is owned by the City, and was operated as the City’s primary solid waste disposal location from the 1930s until its closure in 1989. Ongoing maintenance and operation of a methane gas collection system and a groundwater collection and treatment system are still required for the site. The City is under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement action to implement projects to improve the gas collection and treatment system and enhance ongoing maintenance activities at the site. The full costs to operate the systems and implement the improvements were not understood or completely accounted for in the 2007 rate study.
Can the Solid Waste Management Division ever charge more than the approved rates?
No. Prop 218 requires the Council-approved rates to be the maximum increases allowed for each Fiscal Year, and the Division may not charge any more than the approved maximum increase. Each year a financial analysis will be conducted, and a determination may be made that the rate update in a Fiscal Year does not need to increase to the maximum approved rate. Therefore, the rate implemented in any Fiscal Year may be lower than approved, but will never be greater than the approved rate without undergoing another Prop 218 rate-setting process.
I’m on a fixed income. Is financial assistance available?
The Solid Waste Management Division is introducing the Solid Waste Affordability Credit Program (SWACP). This program will provide financial assistance to any residential solid waste customer based on demonstrated financial need. The SWACP credit is $5 per month with a maximum of $60 in a 12-month period.
To qualify for the SWACP, an account holder must submit documentation to the Utility Billing & Collection Division that they have a household income that is equal to or less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline, or that they qualify for PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program or one of Fresno County’s human services programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or the Medi-Cal Program.
To confirm continued eligibility, account holders will be required to re-apply for the SWACP on an annual basis and affordability credits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants.
Where can I get more information?
Email questions to [email protected], call 559-621-8218, or call Utilities Billing and Collection at 559-621-6888 for all billing-related inquiries.