Trash collection fees for residential and commercial customers in Poway will increase starting July 1.
The Poway City Council on June 3 approved EDCO’s request for the rate increases with a vote of 4-1, with Councilmember Tony Blain opposed.
The requested rate increases from EDCO, the city’s waste collection and recycling company, are based on a 2.77 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index from the second half of 2023 to the second half of 2024, in addition to a 3.42 percent increase in disposal fees, according to a city staff report.
The new rates are as follows:
Single-family 35-gallon residential carts will increase by 63 cents per month. The increase raises the total rate from $22.81 to $23.44 per month.
Single-family 95-gallon residential carts will increase by 86 cents per month. The increase raised the total rate from $31.37 to $32.23 per month.
The 3-yard commercial bins will increase by $4.06 per month, which raises the total rate from $137.82 to $141.88.
Under its agreement with Poway to provide residential and commercial solid waste, recycling and organic waste collection services, EDCO can request an annual rate review.
Steve South, president and CEO of EDCO, said the increases are needed to keep up with rising costs related to the I and increased disposal fees at the landfill. The disposal fee for solid waste originating in Poway and hauled by EDCO is currently $50.21 per ton. Effective July 1, the disposal fee will be $51.93 per ton for Poway, an increase of $1.72 per ton or 3.42 percent, states a city staff report.
“It’s never pleasant to be adjusting rates,” South told the council . “Costs are relatively stabilized, but they do need to be adjusted to keep pace and also to ensure our excellent team remains in place.”
South added that the industry used to be relatively simple in of solid waste collection, but now it’s diverse with solid waste, recycling and organics collection.
Recycled materials are processed at its Escondido facility and shipped both domestically and internationally, he said. Organic material collected in Poway is converted to renewable natural gas in Escondido and that is used to power the fleet of trucks.
Also costly are the $425,000 solid waste collection vehicles, the $60 residential carts and the $1,000 bins, South said.
Councilmember Christopher Pikus said Poway’s rates would still be less than the proposed $43.60 trash collection fee for single-family homes in San Diego.
“You guys run a very tight ship there,” Pikus said to South. “Prices go up and you can’t help it, especially when the landfill fees are set by the Regional Solid Waste Association, which is another government agency that has its hands tied.”
Councilmember Jenny Maeda said she was impressed with EDCO’s use of technology and sustainable practices when she toured EDCO’s recycling center in Escondido about a month ago.
“I was struck by how happy all the employees are, so you know you treat them right,” Maeda said. “It’s a great facility and I’m thrilled to have this partnership with them.”
In response to a question from Pikus about EDCO’s household hazardous waste collection services, South said the free disposal service is available the first and third Saturday of each month. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12325 Crosthwaite Circle in Poway.
For more information, visit Poway.org or EDCODisposal.com.
