Dive Brief:

• Bakersfield City Council recently began mulling a 4.8% rate increase for garbage pick-ups and recycling. If approved next month, the increase could go into effect in July, and would hike customers’ monthly rates by $9, from $181 to $190.
• The proposed increase in waste pick-up and recycling fees was recently broached by the city’s public works department. The department also presented a 2.4% increase in sewage rates measure.
• Bakersfield public works director Nick Fidler said the city last raised its trash and sewage fees nine years ago. The proposed increases will help the city bear expenses that it will incur as Bakersfield complies with new government regulations on waste hauling and sewage treatment.

Dive Insight:

"We've done studies of areas around us, similar cities of our size and we found that we are significantly lower than any other city around us," Fidler said.

The proposal could be approved as soon as the next council meeting June 3 following a hearing.