The state of California, one of the leaders in the United States, is introducing a new program related to garbage collection services. This marks a turning point in the state’s waste management. Likewise, under state waste law, the cities of San Diego and Sacramento are in a period of adaptation to promote environmental protection. Consequently, this represents a new path that many municipalities in the US are following. Recycling is an essential pillar of public policy and will soon have an impact on citizens. Keep reading to learn more about this new proposal that aims to protect our planet.
The monthly fee and price: $43.69 for this particular container
As of July 1, 2025, garbage collection in San Diego is no longer free. The city has decided to end a rule established in 1919 that prohibited charging for this service, marking a turning point in urban waste management. From now on, approximately 1.4 million people living in single-family or multi-family homes with up to four units on the same lot and located on public streets will have to pay a monthly fee of $43.60 for a 95-gallon bin. A change that, although planned for years, has generated uncertainty, debate, and a race against time among residents.
San Diego began charging for garbage collection
For more than 100 years, San Diego residents took garbage collection for granted as a right included in their municipal taxes. That reality has changed. After years of studies and pressure to modernize the waste management system, the local government has implemented a financing model based on direct fees.
According to the city’s official website, this new scheme seeks to ensure the sustainability of the service, improve collection efficiency, and align costs with those who actually use it.
However, not everyone will be able to access this new municipal system. Around 21,000 properties have been excluded for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Among them are:
- Buildings with five or more dwellings on the same plot of land.
- Commercial or mixed-use properties.
- Residences on private streets.
- Gated communities.
- Places where access for municipal trucks is limited.
Those who do not have sufficient physical space to store the necessary containers for garbage, recycling, and organic materials are also excluded.
Households that do not qualify will have to pay for a private service
For residents who are not covered by the municipal system, the solution is to hire an authorized private company. The city has approved five companies to cover this transition:
- Republic Services
- Edco
- Universal Waste Systems
- Ware Disposal
- WM (antes Waste Management).
What each company must provide: the three essential services
Each company must offer the three essential services: waste collection, recycling, and organic waste. And according to the city’s website, if property owners don’t meet the deadline, there may be “service interruptions.” In one case, Republic Services went back on a deal with property owner Robin Allen, the outlet reported, and put her on a waiting list after she signed the contract.
One of the biggest problems, though, is that the private companies said they’re overwhelmed by the number of new customers all at once, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Housing managers and homeowners association members told the news outlet that the process is complicated, and some have even received rejections from the private companies or been put on a waiting list. (SFGATE reached out to a San Diego HOA management company for comment, but the company did not respond to SFGATE’s request.)
The approach of the new staggered schedule
The city established a staggered schedule to facilitate the change, depending on the day of the week on which collection took place. Those who had service on Mondays had to hire a private provider before July 1, while those who were served on Fridays had until September 1.
