The Buckeye City Council will decide next Tuesday Jan. 7 whether to approve new trash and recycling rates as part of a proposed $11 million, seven-year contract with Republic Services. If passed, the new rates would take effect Feb. 6, 2025, alongside service updates aimed at streamlining waste collection across the city.
The proposed rate increases reflect rising operational costs and inflation since the last adjustment in 2020. If approved, residents with standard curbside service would pay $25.53 per month, while in-ground service — an option available in select neighborhoods — would cost $44.60 monthly. Rates for additional trash or recycling carts would be $14.68 each, and replacement carts for damage caused by residents would cost $30.
The agreement includes implementing same-day collection for trash and recycling, a move intended to reduce the number of days commercial trucks are on city streets. Additionally, residents would have the option to schedule bulky trash collection up to four times per year, replacing the current fixed schedule.
In-ground trash services, which require manual labor and are more expensive to maintain, will remain available. These services are especially popular in some Sun City Festival neighborhoods, where a previous survey indicated that 70% of residents preferred keeping the service despite higher costs.
Why the rate hike?
City officials say the increases are necessary to address a funding gap in the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, which relies on subsidies from the General Fund to maintain operations. Without the proposed rate changes, the city would need to increase those subsidies significantly.
The new rates are also expected to help the city meet federal financial standards, including maintaining a 60-day operational reserve, by the end of the contract.
Republic Services was selected through a competitive bidding process. The company’s proposal includes same-day collection and public education initiatives to improve recycling practices. Republic Services also partnered with Rehrig Pacific, a local cart manufacturer, to produce waste containers in Buckeye.
Recycling challenges were a significant focus during the contract discussions. City officials acknowledged that contamination and global market factors have limited the effectiveness of recycling programs. Efforts to address these issues include educational campaigns encouraging residents to recycle only clean, dry items, such as cardboard, aluminum, and certain plastics.
Public input and next steps
The council’s vote on the proposed rates and contract will take place at the Jan. 7, 2025, meeting. Residents wishing to provide input can speak at the meeting by submitting a speaker request form to the City Clerk beforehand. Forms are available in the City Council Chambers.
If approved, the new rates and services will be implemented as part of a broader strategy to align Buckeye’s waste management practices with financial sustainability goals and operational trends in other cities.
For more information, residents can review the city’s Solid Waste Rate Increase Plan, which is available online.
