The True Cost of San Diego's Trash Fee Program
From "Cost Recovery" to "Service Expansion": The Evolution of San Diego's Trash Fee
The Original Promise: A Simple Cost Transfer
When San Diego voters narrowly approved Measure B in 2022, they were presented with a straightforward proposal: shift the cost of trash collection from the general fund to a fee-based system. The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) estimated that if the city only recovered costs for services it was already providing, residents would pay between $23 and $29 per month.
"The analysis says the range of $23 to $29 is based on the city's expectation of spending $79.2 million on trash services in the fiscal year that began July 1, which would mean annual bills of $278 for each of the 285,000 single-family homes that receive the free service," according to the San Diego Union-Tribune's reporting on the IBA's analysis.
What Happened? From $29 to $47.59
The fee proposed in April 2025 is $47.59 per month for standard 95-gallon bin service—nearly double the original estimate. This represents an annual cost of $571.08 per household versus the originally estimated $278-348 annually.
A Point Loma resident expressed what many are feeling: "I'm taken aback that it's now twice as much as we voted for."
Why the Dramatic Increase?
City officials attribute the higher-than-estimated fees to several factors:
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New Service Enhancements: The proposed fee includes services not previously provided, such as:
- Replacement of all 500,000 existing bins with new RFID-equipped containers
- Increased service reliability with improved fleet management
- Free replacement bins (currently costing residents up to $70 plus $25 delivery)
- A dedicated crew for missed collections
- Future services beginning in 2027: bulky item pickup and increased recycling frequency
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State Mandates: New California requirements for recycling organic waste (SB 1383) have added costs that weren't factored into the original estimate.
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Administrative Costs: Creating a new billing system and customer service operation adds expenses not previously needed.
Cost Comparison: Basic vs. Enhanced Service
| Service Level | Monthly Fee | Annual Cost | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Original IBA Estimate) | $23-29 | $276-348 | Only services provided as of 2022 |
| Standard (Current Proposal) | $47.59 | $571.08 | Enhanced services + new bins |
| Economy Option (Current Proposal) | $36.72 | $440.64 | Smaller 35-gallon bins |
| Median Cost in Local Cities | $32 | $384 | Varies by city |
General Fund Impact
While the original promise was to simply transfer costs from the general fund to residents, the current proposal would save the city between $80-90 million annually from its general fund—significantly more than the $79.2 million that was being spent on waste management in 2022.
As the city faces a $258 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2025-26, critics question whether the expanded trash fee has become a revenue-generating tool rather than the simple cost-recovery measure that voters approved.
Sources
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San Diego, California, Measure B, Waste Management Measure (November 2022) - Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/San_Diego,_California,_Measure_B,Waste_Management_Measure(November_2022)
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Garrick, D. (2022, August 24). "Monthly bills would be $23 to $29 if San Diego voters end free trash pickup, new analysis says." San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/08/24/monthly-bills-would-be-23-to-29-if-san-diego-voters-end-free-trash-pickup-new-analysis-says/
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Garrick, D. (2025, April 9). "San Diego cuts trash pickup price after residents balk. Here's what it could now cost." San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/09/san-diego-cuts-trash-pickup-price-after-residents-balk-heres-what-it-could-now-cost/
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City of San Diego. (2025). "Updated Trash Fee and Cost-of-Service Study for Collection Services." Inside San Diego. https://www.insidesandiego.org/updated-trash-fee-and-cost-service-study-collection-services
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City of San Diego. (2022). "Fiscal Impact Statement for City Measure on November 8, 2022 Ballot: Measure B." Independent Budget Analyst Report 22-23. https://www.sandiego.gov/department-document/iba-report-22-23
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