Solid Waste Rates
The City of Santa Monica provides reliable, cost-effective solid waste management to ensure a clean and safe city. It takes $37 million each year to ensure proper collection, recycling, and disposal of 176 million pounds of trash, recyclable materials, and organics each year, address up to 180 requests per day about illegal dumping or bulky item collection, meet California’s new statewide requirement for mandatory organics recycling, and work toward the City’s goal of achieving zero waste by 2030.
Costs have been increasing, and so are the requests from the community for a cleaner Santa Monica. The City of Santa Monica made a conscious decision to halt solid waste rate increases during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect customers during financially uncertain times. Solid waste rates in place since 2019 did not cover these increasing and essential expenses.
At the February 28, 2023, Solid Waste Rate Study Session, the City’s Resource Recovery and Recycling Division (RRR) provided two rate adjustment options for the City Council to consider. The City Council supported the option for rate increases that would allow for the continuation of essential service delivery, the reestablishment of adequate staffing and services that were partially reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to implement the State's organics recycling mandate, to continue the City's efforts to implement sustainable zero waste programming, to address the community's demand for enhanced alley cleanups, and the implementation of a new volunteer-driven community cleanup program. The City Council also supported the establishment of a low-income assistance program (based on eligibility in the CARE program). The low-income rate is 10% off the listed rates.
After the Study Session, RRR staff presented to, and/or shared the rate study information with, all seven neighborhood groups in the City; met twice with the major business stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Santa Monica Pier Corporation, and Business Improvement District's (BID) leaders; advertised in the City's electronic SaMoNews and Buy Local Newsletters; published a notice of the public hearing in the Santa Monica Daily Press; mailed a full-color educational Proposition 218 public notice to all residents and solid waste account holders; created this webpage with all the pertinent rate study information and frequently asked questions; and created an email address for inquiries at swrates@santamonica.gov. Additionally, staff presented twice to the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment. At its April 17, 2023, public meeting, the Commission passed a motion to support RRR’s proposed rate increases and the zero-waste programming funded by these rates.
On June 13, 2023, the City Council held a public hearing to receive public comments and approved the new rates at this hearing.
The new rates became effective on August 1, 2023.
Outreach & Documents / Calendar of Events
(As a part of the community outreach process, please scroll down for a list of FAQs)
February 28, 2023 - Solid Waste Rates Study Session (Item 7-A)
- Location: City Council Chambers, 1685 Main St
- 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 2, 2023 - Community meeting with the North of Montana Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81526517066 Meeting ID: 815 2651 7066
- 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - Community meeting with the Pico Neighborhood Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6109859124 Meeting ID: 610 985 9124
- 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 20, 2023 - Meeting with the Friends of Sunset Park Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84712796950?pwd=VUQ2ekUrYi9tNWo0ai9YNjY1RE5oZz09 Meeting ID: 847 1279 6950
- 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 - Community meeting with the Mid-City Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/85873528762
- 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - Community meeting with the Wilshire-Montana Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84020972773?pwd=Tlk5NFhkc2tIQUJSMk5BTVVmZ3B3Zz09 Meeting ID: 840 2097 2773
- 7:00 p.m.
Monday, April 10, 2023 - Community meeting with the Ocean Park Association
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87041077301 Meeting ID: 870 4107 7301
- 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 28, 2023 - Northeast Neighborhood Association
- Information, along with the Proposition 218 Notice, was provided to the board for distribution to its members.
April 28 - June 13, 2023 - Proposition 218 Public Notice Period
June 13, 2023 - SM Rate Study Public Hearing (Item 12-B)
- Location: City Council Chambers, 1685 Main St
- 5:30 p.m.
Solid Waste Rates, FY 2023-24
FY 2023-24 Residential Solid Waste Rate Table
FY 2023-24 Commercial Solid Waste Rate Table
Solid Waste Rates, 2023-2028
Five-Year Solid Waste Rate Tables 2023-2028
Resolution 11531 - Approved 2023-2028 Solid Waste Rates
Supporting Documentation
Solid Waste Rate Study Staff Report - Study Session, February 28, 2023
Solid Waste Rate Study Presentation to City Council - Study Session, February 28, 2023 Powerpoint
Solid Waste Rate Study Presentation to City Council - Study Session, February 28, 2023 (Audio-Video)
Solid Waste Rate Study Staff Report - Public Hearing and Rate Adoption, June 13, 2023
Proposition 218 Notice of Proposed Rate Increases for Solid Waste Services (English)
218 Aumentos Propuestos De Tarifas Para Servicios De Desechos Sólidos (Español)
Pursuant to Proposition 218, notifications were mailed out on April, 24, 2023 and the public hearing protest period ended on June 13, 2023. No additional protests will be accepted after June 13, 2023.
Contact Us
For questions or comments about Santa Monica's Solid Waste Rate Study, please contact the Resource Recovery & Recycling Division:
swrates@santamonica.gov