The City and County of San Francisco’s zero waste rate structure incentivizes residents to recycle and compost more, instead of tossing recoverable materials in the trash bin. For example, customers who opt for a larger recycling bin and a smaller trash bin are able to lower their monthly bill.
Read our 2024 Rate Change Letter [Chinese,Spanish,Filipino].
2024 Refuse Rates
Effective January 1, 2024
- Residential
- Apartment
- Commercial
Residential Rates (1-5 unit buildings)
| Rate Component | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| Base charge per dwelling unit | $17.78 |
| Trash per 16-gallon bin | $7.43 |
| Recycling per 32-gallon bin | $7.43 |
| Composting per 32-gallon bin | $7.43 |
| Premium for trash above 32 gallons per unit | $11.86 |
San Franciscans are recycling and composting more than ever before. To accommodate more recyclable material, and encourage less landfill material, Recology offers residents a standard service that includes a 32-gallon composting bin, 64-gallon recycling bin, and a 16-gallon landfill bin. Customers who currently have 20-gallon trash will receive the 16-gallon trash rate. In the event your 20-gallon cart needs to be replaced, you will receive a new 16-gallon cart as the 20-gallon cart size is being discontinued.
Customers have the option to customize service levels and container sizes if the standard services are not fitting for the household. Customers may notify Recology of the preferred cart volume by contacting customer service. You may increase or decrease your compost and recycling container sizes to 96 gallon, 64 gallon, or 32 gallons as outlined below.
If you have questions about your residential bill, you can review an explanation of possible charges. Disabled customers may complete and submit this application to receive a waiver of key, distance, and elevation secondary charges.
One-Unit Buildings
| Compost | Recycle | Trash | Rate/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 gallon* | 64 gallon* | 16 Gallon* | $47.50* |
| 32 gallon | 32 gallon | 32 gallon | $47.50 |
| 32 gallon | 64 gallon | 32 gallon | $54.93 |
| 32 gallon | 64 gallon | 64 gallon | $81.65 |
*Standard default service
Two-Unit Buildings
| Compost | Recycle | Trash | Rate/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 gallon | 32 gallon | 32 gallon | $65.28 |
| 32 gallon | 64 gallon | 32 gallon | $72.71 |
| 32 gallon | 64 gallon | 64 gallon | $87.57 |
Three-Unit Buildings
| Compost | Recycle | Trash | Rate/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 gallon | 64 gallon | 64 gallon | $105.35 |
Distance, Elevation, Key & Special Services
We offer premium services such as key, distance, and elevation access for customers that request them.
- Distance
There is no extra charge for collection less than 25 feet from the curb. The distance charge per bin for the collection of each 25-foot increment thereafter is $12.70/mo. - Elevation
No extra charge for collection less than 4 feet elevation change from street level. Elevation charge per bin for collection from each 8-foot increment thereafter is $13.78/mo. - Access Charge
The weekly access charge is $7.98 per bin for hard-to-reach areas.
Low Income Rates
In San Francisco, low-income households may be eligible for a 25% discount. You can verify by showing your voucher or award letter for any of the following programs: Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) CARE program, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), CalFresh/SNAP (Food Stamps), CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF, Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medi-Cal for Families (Healthy Families A&B), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, or Medicaid/Medi-Cal.
Simply mail, fax, or forward by email a copy of your most current PG&E bill showing participation in the CARE program. The name and address on your PG&E account must match the name and address on your Recology account. You may be asked to verify annually.
Apartment & Condo Rates (6+ units)
| Rate Component | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| Base charge per dwelling unit | $5.91 |
| Diversion discount floor | 25% |
| Trash, recycling, and composting per 32-gallon bin | $28.49 |
| 1-cubic yard bin | $179.78 |
State and local laws require that all properties in San Francisco arrange for compost, recycling, and trash services. Properties with six or more units are considered apartments and receive one monthly bill.
Apartment customers are charged for all bins (i.e., trash, recycling, and composting) based on volume; these charges are then discounted based on the volume of diversion service (i.e., recycling and composting) that is provided. To apply for the San Francisco Multi-Family Low Income Discount, complete this form and return it to Recology.
If you have questions about your apartment (6+ units) bill, you can review an explanation of possible charges.
Diversion Discount
Apartment buildings that sort materials correctly into their recycling, composting, and trash bins qualify for a diversion discount. This discount rewards customers and property owners for participating in San Francisco’s zero waste initiatives. By encouraging tenants to recycle and compost when possible, you’ll be able to reduce material headed for landfills. The discount percentage is determined by your service frequency and service volume (container sizes). The maximum diversion discount is 75% off your monthly bill.
Need help implementing a program in your building? Contact us.
Sample Apartment Rate (6 unit building)
| Rate Component | Bin Size | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Base Charge/unit | $34.98 | |
| Trash | 96 gallons | $84.33 |
| Recycling | 96 gallons | $84.33 |
| Composting | 64 gallons | $56.22 |
Distance, Elevation, Key and Special Service Charges
We offer premium services such as key, distance and elevation access to customers in San Francisco that request them.
- Distance
There is no extra charge for collection less than 50 feet from curb. Distance charge is 12.5% times the volume charge (before diversion discount) for weekly collection from within each 50-foot increment thereafter. Distance is from curb to farthest bin. - Elevation
No extra charge for collection less than 4 feet elevation change from street level. Elevation charge is 25% times volume charge (before diversion discount) for weekly collection from elevation changes within each 8-foot increment thereafter. Elevation is from street level to farthest bin. - Access Charge
An access charge will be applied for each bin at a location when a key, padlock, combination lock, key pad, entry code, electronic door opener, transmitter or other similar entry mechanism is required to enter or leave/secure premises. An access charge will be applied for each occurrence of unlocking a bin. An additional access charge will be applied for re-locking each bin serviced should a front-loader driver be required to get out of the vehicle again. A charge will not be applied for re-securing rear load or side load bins at the curb.
Commercial Rates
Charges are based upon service configurations, frequency of collection, and site-specific diversion rates. Rates are designed to offer discounts to businesses based on their diversion rate. Rates are calculated using both a base and variable amount, depending on the businesses diversion success. The variable rate is discounted in proportion to the percent of service volume that is diverted from the landfill (up to 75% discount).
(100% Diversion – 25% Diversion Floor = 75% Discount)
Example
Customer Landfill Diversion Rate: 75%
Diversion Discount Floor: 25%
Actual Discounted volumetric portion of bill: 50%
Customers receiving the highest discounts consistently and properly separate their materials into three bins (green, blue, and black). Consistently contaminated material in the recycle or compost bins can result in the loss of a commercial customer’s diversion discount. Our Waste Zero Team is available to help commercial customers manage collection costs by maximizing recycling and composting, and minimizing landfill service.
If you have questions about your commercial bill, you can review an explanation of possible charges.