Redlands approves solid waste rate hikes amid resident concerns

REDLANDS, Calif. – Redlands residents will soon be paying more for their trash and recycling collection services.

Redlands City Council voted Tuesday to increase solid waste rates by 9% annually for the next three years, followed by a 4% increase in the fourth year.

Why it matters: The rate hike aims to cover rising operational costs and comply with new state environmental regulations, particularly SB 1383, which mandates organic waste reduction.

Garth Schultz, president of R3 Consulting Group, presented the rate study findings to the council. He emphasized that current revenues are insufficient to cover operational costs.

"If you were not to adjust solid waste rates, your solid waste service fund and enterprise fund will run out of available reserves come the middle or the end of fiscal year 2026," Schultz said.

The approved rate increase will see the bimonthly bill for a 60-gallon refuse container rise from $78.93 to $86.04 in 2025, $93.78 in 2026, and $102.22 in 2027.

The rate increases are partly driven by new state mandates, including SB 1383, which requires organic waste reduction to combat greenhouse gas emissions. The city estimates compliance will cost an additional $480,000 annually.

Residents react to rate increases: Some residents expressed concerns about the impact on fixed-income households.

One resident argued that the billing system is "inequitable and discriminatory to single people and seniors," who generate less waste but pay the same rates as larger households.

"No one charges me the same as what someone else gets six times as much," she said, proposing a twice-monthly or biweekly service option for low-waste generators at a reduced fee.

Another resident raised concerns about the steep increase. "I appreciate them trying to keep the rates under 10%, but I urge the council to consider what wage increases are actually happening. I don't know anyone getting a regular 9% increase every year. And certainly not people on fixed incomes," said one resident during the public comment period.

He urged the council to keep rate increases in line with actual wage increases.

City Council response:  Council members acknowledged the financial strain on residents but emphasized the necessity of the increase.

"I just wanted to acknowledge that the impact that utility bills have on families is really meaningful," said Council member Jenna Guzman-Lowery. "And although for us, when we're looking at the numbers, $4 a month doesn't seem like a lot, I think it's important to recognize that for some people who are budgeting down to the dime, that really is an impactful amount."

Guzman-Lowery also recognized the necessity of the increases for infrastructure improvements and noted that Redlands is one of the few cities in the area that still manages its own solid waste department.

Chris Boatman, assistant city manager, explained that the rate increase is partly due to inflation during the COVID-19 period and the time elapsed since the last rate adjustment in 2021.

The council agreed to revisit waste reduction strategies and explore options for more frequent rate analyses to potentially mitigate future sharp increases.

Council member Denise Davis suggested exploring ways to increase enrollment in the city's utility bill assistance program, which currently offers $25 per billing cycle to qualifying low-income households.

Mayor Pro Temp Paul Barich agreed that efforts should be made to publicize the program.

"We should maybe encourage more people to apply for those because sometimes either they don't know how or they're shy, or something of that sort," said Barich.

The City Council received only 48 protests, far short of the 9,770 needed to block the measure. The rate increase passed unanimously.

More information on the city's utility assistance program can be found here.