The city of San Diego is facing a significant change regarding trash collection for single-family homeowners, who have historically not paid for this service.
City Council members are currently debating a new proposal that could result in fees nearing $50 per month for these residents.
The origins of this longstanding free service date back over 100 years to an incident involving hogs, where the city prohibited the selling of refuse for profit.
According to Scott Lewis, editor in chief of Voice of San Diego, the majority of residents are unhappy with the proposed fee.
“It has to do with hogs. Way back when, 100 years ago, somebody took the city’s trash and sold it for profit, you know, to feed hogs. That caused an outrage,” said Lewis, explaining how the initial laws around trash collection came to be.
Historically, single-family homeowners didn’t have to pay for trash pickup while those in multi-family housing have always been responsible for their waste disposal.
The approved Measure B in 2022 allowed the city to implement a fee for trash collection, presenting a unique challenge for city leaders.
Lewis noted that in the past, the idea of charging single-family homes for trash collection was considered politically hazardous, making it a significant shift in city policy.
The proposed fees are causing concern among homeowners, especially given a past estimate that pegged the likely fee at $25, only to be revised to around $50, triggering a backlash.
“At the heart of the outcry was that in the ballot measure two years ago, it said, ‘hey, if you do this, it’ll probably result in an increased fee of about $25 per month.’ And now it’s double that,” Lewis commented.
Furthermore, the charges would be added to property tax bills, presenting a more serious financial consequence compared to other utility bills.
As discussions continue, there’s contention surrounding whether to reduce the proposed fee, which could complicate the city’s budget amid a $250 million deficit.
Alongside the discussion of trash fees, there’s more excitement for San Diego, as Lower Trestles has been officially named as the site for Olympic surfing in the 2028 Los Angeles games.
This prestigious surf spot, renowned for hosting competitions, surprised many—especially those in nearby Huntington Beach, who believed they had a stronger claim.
Leilani Connolly, a beach reporter with the Orange County Register, remarked on the unexpected decision, citing the wave quality and consistency as key factors in the selection.
“Lower Trestles is just a notch above it. A lot of people compare it to a skate park, where it has these long, fluid waves that come in,” Connolly explained.
The surfing competition will showcase athletes in a setting more representative of surfing culture, presenting a chance to highlight both athletic prowess and lifestyle.
Ultimately, as San Diego prepares to host Olympic surfing, the atmosphere is vibrant with both excitement and organizational challenges, especially concerning environmental impacts.
As for the city’s tackling of trash collection, both residents and city officials face significant challenges moving forward, with the potential fee raising questions about equity in public service costs and the sustainability of city finances.
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-roundtable/trash-fees-update-olympic-surfing-comes-to-san-diego
