Public Hearing on Refuse Rates Continued Till May 13

The Pasadena City Council continued a public hearing on increasing refuse rates until next week.

According to a City staff report in the City Council agenda last month, the new refuse rates could increase by 7% each fiscal year from 2026-2029 to adjust for inflation.

City staff said the increase is needed as current rates are not generating enough revenue to keep up with operational cost increases and capital expenses.

The increase would come as local residents face several utility increases. Water, sewer, and power rates could also go up soon.

Currently, residential customers that have a 32-gallon residential refuse cart are paying $16.29 monthly for waste disposal that is picked up once per week. The proposal increases the rate to $24.76 for the first year of the implementation of the rate increase. By 2028, customers will have to pay $32.46 per month for this service.

Residents who have a 60-gallon residential refuse cart who are currently paying $26.44 will need to pay $35.19 this year and those who have a 100-gallon refuse cart currently paying $40.99 will have to pay $46.61 if the proposal gets approved.

The rates for the residential bin (the large 3.2 cubic foot rolling bin) service are also being proposed to be increased.

Residents who have one of these bins picked up once a week and are currently paying a disposal cost of $124.70 will have to pay $249.92, while those who have their bin picked up twice a week and are paying $202.36 will have to pay $499.84 under the new rates.

David Davis, from solid waste consulting firm MSW Consultants, said factors causing upward pressure on rates include the SB 1383 State organics recycling regulations, the closure of Scholl Canyon Landfill and the capital expenditures on replacement trucks and containers.

The City has two types of customers: residential and commercial, and it provides two types of services: the cart service (which most residents use at home) and the bin service.

According to Davis, commercial rates are adjusted yearly by the Consumer Price Index, but residential rates have not been adjusted since 2012, and they need to be increased in order for the City to generate the revenue it needs.

The City was scheduled to hold the public hearing last month, but the City Council moved it to May 6.