Hillsborough OKs $40 Yearly Garbage Fee Hike for Residents

Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 on Wednesday to approve a $40 annual increase in solid waste fees for residential customers, as detailed in county meeting records. The fee for single-family homes in the service area rises from $437 to $477 per year, or about $3.37 monthly. Commissioners Ken Hagan and Josh Wostal opposed the measure, according to reports from the Aug. 21, 2024, commission meeting. The solid waste service covers unincorporated Hillsborough County, portions of New Tampa and Tampa Palms within Tampa city limits, providing twice-weekly curbside garbage pickup, once-weekly recycling and yard waste collection. It excludes the rest of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. Funds from the increase will support upgrading aging facilities and expanding the landfill, per county solid waste department statements. Existing discounts for seniors and those qualifying for hardship benefits have been extended to offset the hike, as approved in the commission vote. Current annual assessments on the Hillsborough County website list single-family regular at $208.60 and senior citizen at $139.39, with the full fee encompassing collection and disposal. Residents should note upcoming changes at county landfills. Starting June 1, 2026, customers at the Southeast County Landfill, 15960 County Road 672 in Lithia, must pay a commercial per-ton disposal fee of $104, ending free residential use via property tax bills, according to the county's March 23, 2026, news release. For example, 300 pounds of garbage will cost $15.60. The Northwest County Solid Waste Facility at 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa remains an option. In contrast, the City of Tampa is proposing separate rate increases over five years for its solid waste services, starting with a $3.32 monthly hike in FY2025, as outlined in the city's April 29, 2024, Solid Waste Rate Study presentation. County residents outside city limits face the immediate $40 impact.