San Francisco Refuse Rates (January - September 2024)

No extra charge for collection less than 25 feet from curb. Distance

charge per bin for collection within each 25-foot increment

thereafter.

No extra charge for collection less than 4 feet elevation change from

street level. Elevation charge per bin for collection within each 8-foot

increment thereafter.

Collection volume is charged equally for trash, recycling and compost.

A landfill diversion discount equal to the diversion volume percentage

less 25% is then subtracted. Diversion volume percentage equals

recycling and composting volume divided by total volume.

No extra charge for collection less than 50 feet from curb. Distance

charge is 12.5% times volume charge (before diversion discount) for

weekly collection within each 50-foot increment thereafter. Distance

is from curb to farthest bin.

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.

An extra charge of 50% times volume charge (before diversion

discount) applies for each trap door (collector must lift a cover

and pull bins up to street level), clearing of a disposal chute,

rake-out (disposal chute without a bin) or bin located on a

ledge one foot or more above floor.

Households with income less than or equal to 200% of the poverty level

may qualify for 25% base and volume discounts.

Nonprofit housing organizations may qualify for 10% discounts.

Distance, elevation and access charges are waived for customers with a

permanent disability that pay for individual service and certify they are

physically unable to place bins at the curb and no able-bodied persons

live in their building. Customer must place bins in a location as accessible

as possible for collection.

Residential and apartment rates apply to single and multi-family homes, flats,

apartments, condominiums, tenancies in common, in- law units, lofts,

live/work spaces (unless clearly commercial), single room occupancy hotels

(with an apartment license) and low income housing. Buildings with more

than 600 rooms (not counting kitchens and bathrooms) or with bins 3-yards or

larger or compacted service, mixed use buildings without dedicated residential

bins and all other buildings are charged commercial rates.

Customer must provide accurate unit and room counts, subject to verification by

Recology.

City law mandates everyone must have adequate refuse service, pay for

service on time and properly separate recyclables, compostables and

trash. Minimum weekly service per unit is 16 gallons for trash, 16 gallons

for recycling and 8 gallons for composting, unless there is no contamination

in any bin. Bins may be shared by dwelling units within one building if refuse

service minimums are met. Apartment rates are for shared bins only.

Recycling, composting and trash bins should be at the same location. Bins shall

be unobstructed and placed for easy access so they can be used and serviced

in a normal and safe manner, as determined by Recology.

Refuse is to be in standard bins. Loose material, overflow (lid must be closed),

overweight (more than 2 pounds per gallon) or non- standard bins may be 

charged the next highest standard bin rate. Cardboard must be placed in a

recycling bin, cardboard box or paper bags not exceeding 2 feet in any dimension

(8 cubic feet). Customers with excess cardboard not in a bin on service day may

Additional frequency charges are linear (weekly service charges are

multiplied by the number of collections per week). 16 and 20- gallon bins

are not serviced more frequently than once per week. Customers must

exceed minimums for more than once weekly service.

Saturday service is 75% more than the applicable weekday rate (including

volume, distance, elevation, access and other special service charges). To

be eligible for a Saturday collection, at least 3 days per week service is

required.

Sunday service is 175% more than the applicable weekday rate (including

volume, distance, elevation, access and other special service charges) for

weekday service. For Sunday collection, daily collection service is required.

Street level and curb is where Recology’s vehicle must park to service customer's

bins. Distance is measured from vehicle along service path to bins. Elevation is

determined by adding all distances up and down along service path.

Volume, distance, elevation, access and other charges are per location. Charges

may be split among customers at the same location at 150% of the otherwise

applicable rate. If two or more customers split service charges, they will be applied

to each bill payer equally or as designated by the customers, subject to approval by

Recology.

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 relocking 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.

Contaminated recycling, composting, and trash bins may have the diversion

discount removed and be assessed a 100% contamination charge. If a recycling or

composting bin is contaminated where it needs to be disposed of as trash, an

“Extra Trash” fee of an equivalent volume may be assessed.

It is the customer's responsibility to monitor all services and charges and notify

Recology of any possible discrepancies. Service credits will not exceed 30 days or

one billing cycle, whichever is greater, from the time of notification by the

customer. Recology performs periodic audits and will correct charges and

recommend service changes.

Recology is responsible for normal wear of bins provided to customers.

Customers are responsible for damaged bins beyond normal wear, reporting

missing bins, excessive missing bins, and may be responsible for replacement

cost. Bin cleaning service is available at an extra charge.

$20 will be charged to open a service account. Closing an account is only allowed

for residency changes. Credit will be given for suspension of service (e.g.,

vacations) for one to three months. Customers must notify Recology of the

suspension and restart dates before start of suspension. Base charges are not

credited and an administrative charge of $10 is charged to restart service

after suspension.