RivCo Trash Pickup Rates Will Rise In July: Here's What To Expect

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a series of hikes to trash collection fees throughout Riverside County's unincorporated communities, where retrieval costs will rise about 3% per customer under the haulers' new rate plans.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board granted the Department of Environmental Health's request to green light adjustments sought by all of the county's trash collectors -- Burrtec Waste, CR&R Inc., Desert Valley Disposal Inc. and Waste Management Inc. -- to incorporate into their contracts with the county.

No member of the public appeared before the board to contest or challenge the proposed hikes.

Officials said the adjustments are necessary to keep pace with inflation. The waste haulers are permitted to seek rate adjustments every year based on rising landfill, transportation and other costs. They generally base their increases on the previous year's estimated changes to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for the region.

The board rarely denies adjustment requests. However, in 2020, then-Supervisor Kevin Jeffries opposed increases, arguing financial hardships tied to the COVID lockdowns made it an inopportune time to hike fees on residents. The increases were approved despite his opposition.

The Burrtec hike will impact customers in Bermuda Dunes and Thousand Palms, boosting monthly rates from an average $31.09 to $32.18.

Residents serviced by CR&R, which deploys trucks to De Luz, Gilman Hot Springs, Lakeland Village, Cherry Valley, Cabazon and surrounding locations, will see their monthly bills go from between $35.73 and $37.88, to between $36.86 and $39.08.

Desert Valley Disposal customers, most of whom reside in North Palm Springs and Painted Hills, will be on the hook for a $1.28 increase, going from an average $37.78 to $39.06.

Waste Management's new fee structure will increase from between $35.73 and $37.88, to between $36.86 and $39.08 per month for residential collections in El Cerrito, Highgrove, Winchester, Woodcrest and neighboring communities, according to the Department of Environmental Health.

In some cases, fees will increase beyond the averages under so-called "hard-to-reach" service plans, which apply when properties are especially remote.

Waste collection for the county occurs in defined "franchise areas," which currently number 11. Most of the existing franchise agreements have been in place since the late 1990s.

The revised fee structures will take effect on July 1.