Garbage rates for apartment buildings, single-family homes and commercial buildings will rise over the next few years, after the progressive rate hike was approved by the San Francisco Department of Public Works.
The new rate hike does not include a passthrough provision.
One of the biggest changes to the new rate structure set by the city is that owners will now be charged for blue and green bin service. For apartments, there will be a $5 residential base rate applied to each unit to pay for these recycling services. However, the rate change also includes a diversion discount of up to 75% of the uniform charges starting at 10% diversion and up to 85% of diversion.
For example, at a 6-unit apartment building, a common service level might be two 96-gallon black bins for trash, one 96-gallon blue bin for recycling and one 32-gallon green bin for compost. The old rate for that service level (with its 40% diversion rate) was $167.44 per month. If this owner does nothing, the new rate will be $205.66. But, if the owner switches to one 96-gallon black bin for trash, two 96-gallon blue bins for recycling and one 64-gallon green bin for compost, the new rate for that service level would be $104.65. That’s a substantial 63% credit for a 73% diversion rate.
Any increase will be capped at 25% for the first year and 50% through the second year to allow buildings time to adjust to the increase. Charges for premium services (such as distance charges) will be applied equally to trash, recycling and composting. On the positive side, Recology will also be expanding their bulky item collection to include picking up illegal dumping on streets and sidewalks. To find out exactly how your rates will change, go to recologysf.com/apartment_rate_calculator.
On the residential side, the average monthly bill will rise from about $28 to $34 a month. Single-family residents will be charged a base rate of $5, with an additional $2 for each 32-gallon blue and green bin. But, again, if residents use their blue and green bins more and their black bins less there is a chance for savings. The old rate for a 32-gallon black trash bin, a 32-gallon blue bin and a 32-gallon green bin was $27.91. A switch to a 20-gallon black bin, 64-gallon recycling bin and 32-gallon compost bin will cost $26.68 under the new rates.
Commercial customers’ fixed rate has moved from 5% to 10%. The new rate structure includes a diversion discount of up to 75% of each bill starting at 10% diversion and up to 85% of diversion. For more information on specific rate changes check out sfzerowasterates.com
I encourage you to remind all your tenants to recycle and compost in order to try to cut down items in the black bin so you can reduce your garbage bills. Keep an eye out for black bins that aren’t being fully used so you can reduce the size of the black bin and get a reduction on your garbage bill.