Huntsville’s two-year-old push to get trash collection to pay for itself will require higher rates for most residential customers – a move city officials describe as both fiscally necessary and a matter of fairness.

The Huntsville Public Works department has proposed a $5 monthly increase for residential customers starting in January, with another $3 monthly increase in January 2027, The Huntsville Times reported last week. The current $16.50 monthly rate for weekly trash collection has held steady since 2010. The fee for single-family and multi-family residences would rise to $21.50 per month and then $24.50, while the extra can fee would increase more, from the current $3 to $9 and then $12.

Speaking to city councilors at their Oct. 10 meeting, Public Works Director Chris McNeese said the city sends out 50 trucks along 25 collection routes per day, Mondays through Thursdays, each route with up to 850 stops.