San Mateo’s waste collection rates are increasing by at least 21% for most residential rates, largely due to Recology’s processing cost increases and postponing last year’s rate hikes.
Last year, the City Council opted to defer almost $500,000 from 2024 to 2025, which is part of the reason for the increase. Overall processing, disposal and collection costs have increased year over year by about 8%, Waste Management Supervisor Jack Johnson said.
“All rates must be based on the actual cost of service. Currently, residential rates do not cover cost of service. Commercial rates generally cover costs,” said Johnson.
For 20-gallon residential bins, San Mateo residents will see rates go up by $7.50 totaling about $36. Carts that are 32- and 64-gallons will go up by $8 and $8.50, respectively. The increase is only slightly higher than the increase for commercial rates, which are going up by $6.50 for a 20-gallon cart and $5.75 for a 32-gallon cart.
Johnson said the disposal and processing increases cover the cost to manage collections from garbage, as well as organic waste and recycling.
“Most of the work of the solid waste team is managing waste diversions, keeping things out of the landfill and recycling valuable resources such as paper, glass, metal and organics,” he said.
Gabe Sasser, project manager for HF & H Consultants, said that the rates are still on the low end compared to many Peninsula cities.
“San Mateo rates continue currently, as well as under the proposed rate, to be less than half of all rates compared. And in that comparison, it includes customers from neighboring jurisdictions, and these are all jurisdictions that are part of the same joint powers authority and thus receive the same level of service from Recology that the city of San Mateo customers do,” Sasser said.
Redwood City’s 20-gallon rate stands at $38.87, with Belmont’s at $41.03.
The increase is also subject to Proposition 218, which necessitates a notice of public hearing, which was mailed to property owners and Recology customers in January. Only 29 protests were received, giving way for the City Council to approve the change.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102
Daily Journal staff
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Dirk van Ulden said:
craigwiesner said:
Hey John! Just had a nice customer come into our shop to praise this column (she thought I wrote it). Of course I told her it was you! Cheers.
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(2) comments
The garbage collection would of course be faster and require fewer trucks and drivers if San Mateo would get all that free car storage off the streets.
Why do all residents have to suffer for the 20% of people with too many cars? It's the biggest government welfare program in town.
Here we go again. Recology, a monopoly with over $1 Billion in revenues, is asking for another huge increase as its service continues to decline. Besides now burdening customers with additional expenses for mandated composting - with woefully inadequate cleanup of smelly composting bins - we are now asked for yet another significant increase in fees. And San Mateo County residents meekly accept this: I was the only one to attend the City Council meeting addressing this for another increase several years ago. When will people wake up and fight back?
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