City of Phoenix Solid Waste Rate Increase Approved
On Wednesday April 22, the Phoenix City Council approved an increase to the Solid Waste Rate. The approved increases are slightly less than the proposed rates—$14 over 3 years vs the proposed $17 over 3 years. Rate increases 2029-2033 are annual inflation adjustment not to exceed 5% based on annual solid waste financial review
| Month/Year | Rate increase | Equivalent % increase | New monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $5/month | ~13% | $42.32 |
| July 2027 | $5/month | ~12% | $47.32 |
| July 2028 | $4/month | ~11% | $51.32 |
| July 2029* | up to $2.57/month | up to 5% | up to $53.89 |
| July 2030* | up to $2.69/month | up to 5% | up to $56.58 |
| July 2031* | up to $2.83/month | up to 5% | up to $59.41 |
| July 2032* | up to $2.97/month | up to 5% | up to $62.38 |
| July 2033* | up to $3.12/month | up to 5% | up to $65.50 |
But Wait, There’s More!
We recently had the opportunity to speak with leaders from the Solid Waste Division of the City of Phoenix Public Works Department to ask additional questions and learn more about what services are funded by the solid waste rate that Phoenix residents pay.
In our previous blog post, we discussed additional services like bulk trash collection and monthly transfer station drop-offs—but here is a short list of other services we learned about during our discussion:
In 2025
Illegal Dumping Cases
Public Works responded to 1,192 incidents of illegal dumping, totaling 1,316 tons of trash and debris. Cases are investigated to see if a responsible party can be identified (through discarded mail or other identifying information) and 38 Notices of Violation were issued to the responsible party. Ultimately, 3 citations were issued for illegal dumping.
Encampment Cleanups in partnership with PHX CARES / Office of Homeless Solutions
Public Works responded to 2,316 encampments for cleanup and disposal of trash and debris, totaling 590 tons of material.
Regular Solid Waste Collection
On average, the department services more than 170,000 bins per day (trash and recycle combined).
Each truck services 1,200-1,300 stops per day, putting enormous wear and tear on the trucks and equipment.
Landfill Operations
Public Works transports solid waste an average of 65 miles to the SR85 landfill currently in operation.
Public Works is also responsible for monitoring and maintaining 5 closed landfills previously used by the city.
