Refuse Rates

Our refuse rates don’t just pay for landfill waste, they pay for much more. 

They pay for the collection, processing, and disposal of landfill (black cart), recycle (blue cart), and compost (green cart) materials; street sweeping; household hazardous waste; annual clean-up day program; maintenance, monitoring, and reporting for the closed Palo Alto Landfill; and zero waste programs.

Residential Refuse Rates

Cart Size

Current Rates

20-gallon

$28.64

32-gallon

$51.57

64-gallon

$103.15

96-gallon

$154.72

 

Current Residential Rate Schedule (R-1)(PDF, 165KB)

Current Commercial Rate Schedule (R-C)(PDF, 534KB)

The City is required through Proposition 218 to notify utilities customers about proposed water, wastewater, and refuse changes in advance of a public hearing. The City mailed a Proposition 218 Notice to all utility customers, detailing proposed changes to FY 2027 water, wastewater, and refuse rates.