City Council approves new solid‑waste fee to cover organics mandate, expands low‑income relief

The Los Angeles City Council voted 10–1 on April 11 to approve a multi‑year increase to the city’s solid resources fee, a change Sanitation leaders say is necessary to cover the cost of new state organic‑waste rules, rising equipment and labor costs and programs such as unlimited bulky‑item pickup.

The vote sends the proposal forward with an implementation date the department has modeled for Jan. 1, 2026, with subsequent adjustments effective each July 1 for the following four years. Department officials said the fee package is projected to generate about $184 million for the solid resources program and roughly $8.5 million for a multifamily bulky‑item program over the plan period and would sharply reduce a growing general‑fund subsidy.

Why it matters: Los Angeles has relied on the general fund to cover an increasing share of sanitation costs. That subsidy, Sanitation officials said, reached roughly $217 million within five years — nearly 40% of program costs — and will continue to grow unless fees are adjusted.

“The $217,000,000 in general fund subsidy amounts to nearly 40% of those costs, and that percentage will continue to increase if we do not have a rate adjustment,” said Barbara Romero, director and general manager of LA Sanitation and Environment, during the council presentation.

Council members and staff…