Trenton council approves higher commercial trash and mattress disposal fees

The Trenton City Council voted May 18 to raise several sanitation fees after city staff said disposal costs have risen sharply.

DPS Director Kevin told the council that the cost to provide commercial trash collection has “risen significantly” in recent years because of higher prices for trucks, fuel, labor and landfill tipping fees. He recommended increasing the commercial rate from $10 to $15 per cubic yard per month, with the new rate effective July 1, 2026. The council moved, supported and approved the change.

Kevin also said the city has been absorbing a widening gap on mattress and box-spring disposal. “We are currently charging our residents $20 per mattress or box spring,” he said, and the landfill now charges the city about $100 per piece. To bridge that gap, staff proposed raising the collection fee to $60 per piece; that amount is in addition to the city’s $35 special-pickup base fee. The council approved that increase; the new mattress fee is also set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Council members asked whether comparable municipalities charge similar fees; Kevin answered that direct comparisons are difficult because Trenton operates its own collection and special-pickup services, but he said most landfills now assess mattress/box-spring disposal surcharges. Council discussion included confirmations that the landfill is charging roughly $100 per piece and that the city’s previous $20 charge left the city subsidizing disposal.

The increases were presented as a budgetary adjustment to avoid continued operating losses in the sanitation enterprise fund. No amendments to the proposed amounts were offered during the meeting; council approved both rate changes by voice vote.

The city will publish the updated rate schedule and effective date on its website and in standard customer notices ahead of the July 1 start date.