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Committee hears initial discussion of proposed trash fee to fund landfill closure and monitoring
Summary
Members discussed a City Council plan to implement a monthly trash fee (starting at $5) that will fund landfill closure and monitoring obligations; staff said implementation will include resident education and potential tiered senior rates.
The Farmers Branch Sustainability Committee discussed City Council action and staff plans related to a proposed monthly trash fee to fund landfill closure and monitoring during the Sept. 13 meeting.
A communications subcommittee member said the fee proposal will cause public feedback and asked whether the sustainability committee could help with outreach. Staff summarized Council discussion: a fee to create a landfill closure and monitoring fund is expected to start at $5 per month for most households, with a senior discount (reported in the meeting as $2.50) for qualifying residents and a different rate where service is once a week. Staff stated the effective implementation date discussed by Council was Oct. 1, 2024.
Staff explained the fee responds to legal and regulatory requirements to establish funds for long-term landfill closure and monitoring. Committee members said they anticipated public concern—recalling the public reaction to the earlier rollout of recycling carts—and suggested the committee assist with resident education and communications. Alex (Sustainability staff) said management has not yet provided final direction on the outreach approach and that staff would coordinate with public works and communications as the timeline progresses.
Finance staff were reported to have modeled revenue and phasing options; staff described a gradual approach that starts with a lower monthly fee and increases over time rather than one large increase. No final fee schedule or ordinance text was presented to the committee at the Sept. 13 meeting. Committee members asked staff to keep them informed and offered to support outreach efforts to explain the purpose of the fee and any senior or service-area discounts.
No vote was taken by the committee; staff said the schedule allows time for education before the proposed implementation date.
