Solid Waste Rates

The City of Murrieta manages solid waste for residents and businesses through a franchise agreement with USA Waste of California, Inc., (also known as Waste Management). Waste Management’s (WM) services include the collection, transfer, processing, and disposal of all solid waste, recyclables, and organic waste (i.e., landscaping and food waste) generated in the City of Murrieta. 

In recent years, there have been several new laws adopted by the State of California pertaining to solid waste and new requirements for the recycling of organic materials. The City of Murrieta is required by law to implement programs in order to comply with these new requirements.

Multi-family and commercial customers with trash, recycling, and organics cart and/or bin service are charged a monthly rate based on the number and size of their carts and/or bins and the number of weekly pickups; these rates were previously adopted. No changes are proposed at this time to the current rates for commercial and multi-family customers. 

To meet these requirements, single-family residential customers with cart service will be charged a monthly base rate, which includes the weekly collection of trash (grey cart), recyclables (blue cart), and organics (green cart). These services will be provided using customers’ existing containers. There is a cost to provide these new required services, which requires a $2.79 per month rate increase by WM for single-family residential customers.

The City’s last rate review occurred in 2019. The City’s franchise agreement with WM sets forth initial rates and an inflation formula for annual adjustments to the rates, which includes variables such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and operational increases in disposal costs. If the proposed rates are adopted, then annual adjustments to such rates may only continue for the next five (5) years or until another Public Hearing is held. Please see the complete list of proposed rates here.

On March 7, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Public Hearing regarding the proposed rate increase. The Public Hearing took place in the City Council Chambers, located at 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA 92562. Here is a link to the Notice of Public Hearing with additional information on the Public Hearing and how to submit written protests to the proposed rates.

Resources