Proposed Residential Rate Increase

Frequently Asked Questions

On January 12, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted rate increases that were significantly less than the recommended rates noticed to ratepayers in October 2020. Therefore, the current rates (including the upcoming adopted $5 per month rate increase effective January 1, 2022) do not meet the County's revenue requirement to fund its residential solid waste operations and capital spending obligations. The recommended rate increases are necessary to provide sufficient revenues for the County to continue providing residential solid waste services in a cost-effective manner and to achieve regulatory compliance with new State regulations, including the requirement to collect and recycle food waste under Senate Bill 1383. If approved, the proposed rate increase will: 

  • Cover costs to collect residential food waste with green waste weekly, beginning on or after July 1, 2022, as mandated by State law (SB 1383).
  • Provide sufficient revenue to meet the County's rising costs for ongoing capital and operating obligations (labor, services and supplies, and equipment maintenance).
  • Stabilize the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund's financial position and improve its borrowing capacity to debt finance new residential collection equipment and facility improvements needed for SB 1383 compliance

If the proposed residential rate increase is approved, beginning on or after July 1, 2022, green waste and food waste (organics) collection frequency will be increased from every other week to weekly since it will include food waste to support compliance with State Law (SB 1383). With this change to weekly organics collection service, an additional monthly fee of $8.96 per each additional organics cart will be billed on any account that has more than one organics cart.

If approved, the proposed rate increase will be phased-in over a four-year period, as shown below.

Standard Service Rates by Garbage Cart Size

  • 30 gallon cart
    • Current Rate: $24.95
    • Adopted January 1, 2022: $29.95
    • Proposed July 1, 2022: $31.93
    • Proposed July 1, 2023: $33.56
    • Proposed July 1, 2024: $35.18
    • Proposed July 1, 2025: $36.63
  • 60 gallon cart
    • Current Rate: $28.55
    • Adopted January 1, 2022: $33.55
    • Proposed July 1, 2022: $35.77
    • Proposed July 1, 2023: $37.59
    • Proposed July 1, 2024: $39.41
    • Proposed July 1, 2025: $41.03
  • 90 gallon cart
    • Current Rate: $35.76
    • Adopted January 1, 2022: $40.76
    • Proposed July 1, 2022: $43.46
    • Proposed July 1, 2023: $45.67
    • Proposed July 1, 2024: $47.88
    • Proposed July 1, 2025: $49.85 

Each standard level of service covered by the rates above include the following:

  • One cart for recycling (up to 90 gallons)
  • One cart for green waste (up to 90 gallons)
  • Once every 12 months pickup of bulky waste by appointment
  • Weekly curbside pick-up of used motor oil, used motor oil filters, and used cooking oil collected on your garbage day
  • Drop-off services for Household Hazardous Waste at several area facilities 

Additional proposed fees for extra recycle and green waste carts are as follows:

  • Recycle
    • Adopted January 1, 2022: after the first cart, $5.50
    • Proposed July 1, 2022: after the first cart, $5.86
    • Proposed July 1, 2023: after the first cart, $6.16
    • Proposed July 1, 2024: after the first cart, $6.46
    • Proposed July 1, 2025: after the first cart, $6.73
  • Green Waste
    • Adopted January 1, 2022: after the second cart, $8.40
    • Proposed July 1, 2022: after the first cart, $8.96
    • Proposed July 1, 2023: after the first cart, $9.41
    • Proposed July 1, 2024: after the first cart, $9.87
    • Proposed July 1, 2025: after the first cart, $10.27

Rates for Sacramento County Department of Waste Management & Recycling residential customers are very competitive with other garbage/recycling rates in this area. The following list presents comparable rates for one 60-gallon garbage cart serviced weekly, including green waste and recycling service. The County's rates are compared to current and future rates for similar service in other jurisdictions.

  • County of Sacramento
    • Current Rate: $28.55
    • Adopted 1-1-2022: $33.55
    • Proposed 7-1-2022: $35.77
  • City of Sacramento
    • Current Rate: $41.17
    • Proposed 4-1-2022: $44.90
  • City of Folsom
    • Current Rate: $34.50
    • Proposed 7-1-2022: $49.75
  • City of Roseville
    • Current Rate: $31.06
    • Adopted 7-1-2022: $36.05
  • City of Elk Grove
    • Current Rate: $28.78
    • Proposed 7-1-2022: $35.39
  • City of Rancho Cordova
    • ​Current Rate: $27.59​​

Last year, the Board of Supervisors adopted residential garbage, recycling, and green waste rate increases at an amount that was significantly less than what was recommended to meet the cost of service. As a result, the current adopted rates are insufficient to provide the funds necessary to conduct County solid waste services. As such, an additional increase is required to provide the needed revenue to fund both current and future residential waste services. Prior to last year, residential rates had not increased in over 10 years​.

Our low-income customers are currently eligible to receive up to $120 per year (or $10/month) in rebates on their garbage bill. For more information about the Solid Waste Lifeline Rate Assistance Program, and to find out if you qualify, please contact Consolidated Utilities Billing and Service at 916-875-5555, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, or email utilities@saccounty.gov.

Currently, approved green waste exemptions will remain in effect until July 1, 2022, when State mandated residential curbside organics (food scraps, food soiled paper and green waste) collection is expected to begin. After weekly curbside organics collection begins, most customers will be required to have an organics cart. Exemptions may be provided on a case-by-case basis in designated low population census tracts of less than 75 people per square mile or due to physical space constraints.

If you oppose the proposed rate increase, your protest must be submitted in writing to be considered, even if you plan to participate in the public hearing. If a majority of parcel owners submit written protests, the proposed rate increase will not be implemented. Your written protest must be received prior to the public hearing on January 25, 2022, 2:00 p.m.  Emails, faxes, or photocopied letters are not accepted.

Protests must include the parcel owner's name and service address.

Written protests must be mailed to: ​

County of Sacramento
P.O. Box 277490
Sacramento, CA 95827-9420

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed rate increases on January 25, 2022, 2:00 p.m., at the Sacramento County Administration Center in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 700 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. In compliance with the directives of the State, County and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meeting procedures are subject to change pursuant to guidelines related to social distancing and minimizing person-to-person contact. Public participation during a meeting is encouraged and members of the public have the option to make a public comment verbally or in writing. Detailed instructions for commenting are available at the Board of Supervisors Public Meetings webpage. Refer to the published meeting agenda posted 72-hours prior to each meeting to view current meeting procedures.  

Verbal Comment: During the meeting, you may make an in-person verbal public comment or call 916-875-2500. The public comment phone line will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. 

Written Comment:

  • ​Send an email comment to BoardClerk@saccounty.gov​. Include meeting date and agenda item number.  Contact information is optional. 
  • Mail a comment to 700 H Street, Suite 2450, Sacramento, CA 95814. Include meeting date and agenda item number or off-agenda item.  Contact information is optional. 
  • Written comments are distributed to members, filed in the record, and will not be read aloud.

Please contact Consolidated Utilities Billing and Service at 916-875-6668, or email us at sacgreenteam@saccounty.gov

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