The Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission approved Wednesday a potential rate hike to trash services in the city. In a 6-2 vote, the commissioners approved the measure that would add $12 a month over the course of 3 ½ years. According to the Sacramento Department of Public Works, the rate hike is needed for various reasons, including population growth, increasing the frequency of street sweeping and recent regulations on organic food waste. Another reason for the proposed fee increase is because of China. Public works spokesperson Erin Treadwell said China used to be the biggest purchaser of the United States’ recyclables. Last year, that changed. China passed the National Sword Policy that mandated any imported recyclables be 99.5% pure -- meaning no food residue at all. “Maybe they left a little mayonnaise in the jar, maybe they put that pizza box in with grease that’s going to get on the paper," Treadwell said. "That little contamination can impact an entire load.”China’s strict contamination regulation basically shut down an intake of recyclables from the U.S., Treadwell said. The change means the cost of recycling has gone up. “We’re going to have to pay more to have the recycling processed,” Treadwell said. Last year, the city of Sacramento made $500,000 from processing recyclables. Next year, it will likely cost the city $2 million to process recycling, according to public works.“Just the way waste is handled now, we incur those costs,” Treadwell said. “There’s no markup. We have to charge the cost it takes to provide those services.”Sacramento City Council will likely vote on the rate hike in October. If approved, the garbage fee increase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

The Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission approved Wednesday a potential rate hike to trash services in the city.

In a 6-2 vote, the commissioners approved the measure that would add $12 a month over the course of 3 ½ years.


According to the Sacramento Department of Public Works, the rate hike is needed for various reasons, including population growth, increasing the frequency of street sweeping and recent regulations on organic food waste.

Another reason for the proposed fee increase is because of China.

Public works spokesperson Erin Treadwell said China used to be the biggest purchaser of the United States’ recyclables. Last year, that changed. China passed the National Sword Policy that mandated any imported recyclables be 99.5% pure -- meaning no food residue at all.

“Maybe they left a little mayonnaise in the jar, maybe they put that pizza box in with grease that’s going to get on the paper," Treadwell said. "That little contamination can impact an entire load.”

China’s strict contamination regulation basically shut down an intake of recyclables from the U.S., Treadwell said. The change means the cost of recycling has gone up.

“We’re going to have to pay more to have the recycling processed,” Treadwell said.

Last year, the city of Sacramento made $500,000 from processing recyclables. Next year, it will likely cost the city $2 million to process recycling, according to public works.

“Just the way waste is handled now, we incur those costs,” Treadwell said. “There’s no markup. We have to charge the cost it takes to provide those services.”

Sacramento City Council will likely vote on the rate hike in October. If approved, the garbage fee increase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.