Why Davis residents will pay more for trash, recycling service starting in February
Davis residents will see a 15% increase in monthly trash and recycling rates starting Feb. 1, following a City Council vote Tuesday to approve higher utility fees through 2030.
Trash and recycling rates for 64-gallon trash cans in Davis will rise to $56 a month from the current $49. Rates will continue to increase annually until 2030, when they will reach about $70 per month, according to the plan that was approved by a 4-to-0 vote — Councilmember Gloria Partida was not present.
The rate hike is expected to generate an additional $2.6 million in 2026, according to a city staff report, and is intended to cover rising costs for labor, equipment and landfill tipping fees.
According to the proposal, the majority of the increase — about 85% — stems from the city’s contracted waste hauler, with the remaining 15% tied to municipal costs. City officials said revenue from current rates no longer covers expenses, and warned that without the adjustment, Davis would need to rely on inter-fund loans to maintain operations.
By comparison, according to the city staff report, monthly trash rates are roughly $40 in Woodland, $45 in Winters and $29 in West Sacramento. Davis officials noted, however, that local rates reflect a broader range of services, including on-street yard material pickup, 24-hour recycling drop-off centers and early adoption of food-scrap and organics programs.
More than 15,000 Proposition 218 notices were mailed to Davis property owners in October, with residents given an opportunity to protest the increase. A majority protest would have blocked the rate adjustment, but that threshold was not met, city officials said.
The city expects to begin negotiating a new waste hauling contract in late 2026. Officials said the process could result in additional service and rate changes.
