Phoenix proposes three-year residential garbage fee increases to cover costs and avert service reductions

What is being proposed

Phoenix is considering a multi-year increase to the monthly fee residents pay for curbside solid waste collection, a charge that appears on the City Services Bill alongside water and sewer services. The plan presented to the City Council on Feb. 10, 2026 would raise the standard residential monthly solid waste rate by $6 on July 1, 2026; another $6 on July 1, 2027; and $5 on July 1, 2028.

Under the proposal, the monthly fee would move from $37.32 today to $43.32 in July 2026, $49.32 in July 2027, and $54.32 in July 2028. The package also includes a mechanism for annual adjustments beginning July 1, 2029, capped at 5% per year through June 30, 2034, subject to annual review.

Why the city says it needs more revenue

Phoenix’s solid waste operation is structured as an enterprise fund, meaning it is designed to pay its own costs primarily through customer fees rather than the city’s general fund. City materials state that the monthly fee paid by residents accounts for most division revenue, while other income comes from sources such as disposal-related fees and the sale of recyclables.

City figures presented with the proposal show operating cost pressures since the last council-approved solid waste rate adjustment in 2020. Over that period, staff costs were reported to have increased 32%, vehicle costs 52%, and construction and maintenance costs for critical infrastructure 40%. The city also projects a $20.8 million shortfall in the solid waste fund in the current fiscal year.

What residents receive for the monthly solid waste fee

The city lists the following services as part of the residential solid waste program covered by the monthly fee:

• Weekly garbage and recycling collection
• Four bulk trash collections per year (appointment-based scheduling)
• Monthly transfer-station drop-offs (up to one ton)
• Household hazardous waste at-home collection (once per year) and drop-off events
• Additional services including illegal dumping cleanup support and seasonal programs

Key decision dates and public meetings

A city advisory committee recommended approval of the concept on Oct. 20, 2025. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal at a formal meeting on April 22, 2026. If approved, the first increase would take effect July 1, 2026, aligning with the start of the city fiscal year.

The city’s published timeline indicates community information sessions are being held in February and March 2026 ahead of the April vote.

Household impacts and available options

The proposal would raise the standard residential monthly fee by $17 over three years, before any future inflationary adjustments. Phoenix also offers a smaller 60-gallon garbage container option that reduces the monthly charge by $3 compared with the standard 90-gallon container rate.

For residents struggling to pay city bills, Phoenix operates Project Assist, a program for income-qualified households at or below 200% of the federal poverty income level that can help with water, sewer, and solid waste charges.

City materials warn that without an increase beginning in July 2026, the Public Works Department would face significant service reductions to balance the solid waste enterprise fund.