Controller proposes lower refuse-rate increases than Recology; public hearing held

Summary

At an April 24 public hearing, Jay Lau of the Controller’s Office presented a three-year refuse-rate proposal that would raise rates less than Recology’s request (12.59% vs. 18.18% over three years); the hearing drew questions about a proposed contingent $35 million trash-processing facility and timeline for the rate board.

At the Sanitation and Streets Commission meeting on April 24, 2025, Jay Lau, the refuse rates administrator in the Controller’s Office, presented a proposed three‑year rate order for residential refuse service covering rate years 2026–2028 and held the public hearing required by San Francisco Health Code section 290.6(b)(3).

Lau said Recology’s application requested a three‑year increase totaling about 18.18 percent; the Controller’s Office proposal reduces that to 12.59 percent, representing an approximate $50 million savings to ratepayers compared with Recology’s request. Lau said the Controller’s Office proposal would save an estimated $2.63 per month for a single‑family household in the first year compared with Recology’s filing. He told commissioners, “Our increase reduces to 12.59%.”

Lau described three main drivers behind the structural portion of the first‑year increase: lower tonnage and slower downtown recovery since the pandemic, a payroll projection error…

Controller proposes lower refuse-rate increases than Recology; public hearing held

Summary

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