Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Trash pickup is about to get more expensive for LA residents — here’s how much you’ll pay
Sanitation workers remove trash at the Venice Beach Boardwalk on July 2, 2021 in Los Angeles.
(
Robyn Beck
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
This story was first published on Boyle Heights Beat on Oct. 16, 2025.
Many Los Angeles city residents will soon be paying more for trash collection as the City Council prepares to formalize a plan that more than doubles the monthly fees in some households.
How much more will you pay for trash?
Residents living in single-family homes and duplexes will see their monthly fees increase from $36.32 to $55.95. The increase for three-to-four-unit households will be even higher, with their fees going from $24.33 to $55.95.
Over the next four years, fees will rise by $10 to $65.93. Rates will be reduced for those who qualify for the city’s EZ-SAVE or Lifeline programs.
The trash fee hike — the first in 17 years — is expected to take place in November, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Why are rates going up?
In March, the Bureau of Sanitation asked the L.A. City Council to consider a rate hike to make up for big budget gaps, writing that the current waste collection fees aren’t enough to pay for operations.
The need to raise rates is the result of several factors, according to the department.
Sponsored message
There’s been a substantial increase in costs for materials, labor and vehicles over 15 years. California’s green waste recycling program costs more than $66 million each year to comply with. And while the department used to be paid $6 million a year for recyclables, that changed in 2017 after the recycling market collapsed. They now pay $20 million annually.
What’s next?
The City Council voted 12-2 on Oct. 7 to finalize the increase. A second reading of the fee hike ordinance will be held on Oct. 21 before it heads to Mayor Karen Bass’s desk for approval.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
