The City’s Solid Waste Management Division provides weekly solid waste, recycling, and green/organic collection to residential accounts (using City carts). Businesses and apartment buildings are served by private waste haulers.

What changes on July 1, 2026 (and who it affects)

Under the City’s schedule, each annual rate change takes effect on July 1. Starting July 1, 2026:

• 96-gallon solid waste service rises to $38.70 per month.
• 64-gallon alternative (64-gallon trash) rises to $35.25 per month.

These are the City’s stated monthly residential solid waste rates. Your total City bill may still vary based on the service options shown on your account and other charges.

Rate details by service level

• 96-gallon solid waste service: the City’s “Basic” service level using 96-gallon carts for trash plus recycling and green/organics. The monthly rate is $38.70 starting July 1, 2026.
• Alternate service (64-gallon trash): a 64-gallon trash cart paired with 96-gallon carts for recycling and green/organics. The monthly rate is $35.25 starting July 1, 2026.

Why the City is increasing the residential rates

On its Prop. 218 rate update page, the City says the plan is designed as an affordable five-year approach to sustain reliable services, protect public health, and keep Fresno clean.

The City also adopted an amendment to its Master Fee Schedule that is set to take effect July 1, 2026, aligning the fee schedule with the next annual step in the residential rate plan.

If affordability is a concern: SWACP credits may help

Fresno also has a Solid Waste Affordability Credit Program (SWACP) for qualifying low-income residential customers.

How much the credit is: the City describes a $5 per month credit for water service and/or a $5 per month credit for residential solid waste service, with a maximum of $10 per month (or $120 over a 12-month period).

It’s not automatic: credits are first-come, first-served, and once the yearly limit is met, additional funds may not be available until the next fiscal year (which begins July 1). Customers must reapply each year.

What to do now (important SWACP timing)

• Apply by May 31 each year (for the upcoming July-to-June credit period).
• Credits run for 12 months from July to June.
• For continued participation into the next cycle, accountholders must submit required paperwork prior to June 1 (for the next period beginning July 1).

If you’re enrolled, the City’s application materials say affordability credits are applied to the accountholder’s utility bill for the next billing period, appearing on the next bill.

Watch for this on your bill

• Starting with service reflecting July 1, 2026, your monthly residential solid waste rate should reflect either $38.70 (96-gallon) or $35.25 (64-gallon alternative), depending on your service level.
• If you’ve applied and are approved through SWACP for the current cycle, look for the $5/month solid waste credit on your City utility bill.

Sources

• City of Fresno Prop. 218 solid waste rate update page (Residential Solid Waste Rate Update 2024)
• City of Fresno Legistar (ID 26-142): 590th Master Fee Schedule amendment resolution
• The Fresno Bee: 'Fresno trash rates are going up July 1' (June 29, 2026 report)

What changes July 1, 2026 (quick numbers)

The City sets residential rates by cart service level. Starting July 1, 2026, the City’s monthly charges move to:

• Basic 3-cart service (96-gallon solid waste service): $38.70/month (up from $35.50/month through 6/30/2026)
• Alternate option (64-gallon trash + 96-gallon recycling/organics): $35.25/month (up from $32.34/month through 6/30/2026)

In dollar terms, that’s +$3.20/month for the standard 96-gallon 3-cart setup and +$2.91/month for the alternate trash cart setup.

Which Fresno households does this cover?

This rate update is for City of Fresno residential solid-waste customers—the homes served by the City’s Solid Waste Management Division, which provides weekly collection through City-marked carts.

According to the City, homeowners and residents in homes up to the size of a fourplex receive the City’s trash and recycling services; businesses and apartment buildings are served by private waste haulers.

If your driveway has City logo carts—gray, blue, and green—you’re in the City-serviced customer class covered by this schedule.

Basic 3-cart (96-gallon) service: before vs. after July 1, 2026

For the standard City service level (three 96-gallon carts):

• Through 6/30/2026: $35.50/month
• Starting 7/1/2026: $38.70/month

The City describes this as weekly collection using one cart each for trash (gray), recyclables (blue), and green waste/organics (green).

Alternate 64-gallon trash option: before vs. after July 1, 2026

Some residents use a different cart mix: 96-gallon carts for recycling and organics, plus a 64-gallon cart for trash. For that alternate service level:

• Through 6/30/2026: $32.34/month
• Starting 7/1/2026: $35.25/month

That’s a +$2.91/month increase for the alternate cart setup.

Extra cart fees also rise on July 1, 2026

The City also charges monthly add-on rates for additional carts. Starting July 1, 2026, examples of extra-cart price changes include:

• Extra 64-gallon trash (gray) cart: $6.33/month → $6.90/month (+$0.57)
• Extra 96-gallon trash (gray) cart: $9.50/month → $10.36/month (+$0.86)
• Extra 96-gallon recycling (blue) cart: $3.99/month → $4.35/month (+$0.36)
• Extra 96-gallon organics (green) cart: $5.69/month → $6.20/month (+$0.51)

If you’re paying for extra carts already—or you’ve requested additional service—this is the part of the rate update that can change the most from bill to bill.

Why Fresno is raising residential solid-waste rates

City documents describe the rate plan as needed to sustain reliable residential service. The City’s Prop. 218 materials point to higher operating costs over time and a need to reestablish the Division’s financial health.

In coverage of the July 1 change, Fresno Public Utilities leadership described the increase as part of escalating costs tied to fuel, vehicle replacements, and labor. Reporting also cited a budget deficit issue discussed at the time the earlier City Council vote occurred, and that Fresno offers an affordability credit for low-income customers.

What residents can do next

• Confirm your service level by matching your cart setup to the City’s standard 3-cart service or the alternate 64-gallon trash option.
• Check your next monthly solid-waste charge for the updated amount effective July 1, 2026.
• If you have extra carts, review which cart size and color you’re being billed for so you know whether your add-on fee is changing.

For most City-served homes, the key takeaway is simple: starting July 1, 2026, the City’s monthly solid-waste charge rises under the existing schedule—+$3.20/month for the standard 96-gallon 3-cart setup, and +$2.91/month for the alternate 64-gallon trash option.

Sources

• City of Fresno — Residential Solid Waste Rate Update 2024 (Prop. 218 rate schedule and cart/service pricing)
• Fresno Legistar (City of Fresno) — Prop. 218 solid waste management division service rates update supplement packet (PDF)
• Fresno Bee — Trash rates rise July 1 as five-year plan continues