The San Diego Trash Fiasco: How Owners, Residents & Property Managers Got Caught in the Overhaul
San Diego’s long-standing policy of free residential trash pickup is ending—and the fallout is causing serious headaches for property managers, homeowners, and residents.
The Rollout: From Promise to Panic
Voters approved Measure B in 2022, undoing the 1919 “People’s Ordinance” that codified free trash pickup for single‑family homes. Now the city is implementing a new fee structure:
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Single-family homes will be billed $36‑47/month, depending on bin size, eventually rising to $60/month by 2027
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Official estimates suggest service costs per home were wildly miscalculated, prompting backlash and a pending legal challenge under Proposition 218
City officials blamed consultants for inflated projections—adding tens of millions of dollars to justify the fee. Critics argue the fee exceeds actual costs and is being used to fill budget gaps unrelated to trash service
Capacity Crisis: Private Haulers Are Overwhelmed
The city directed property owners to secure service from one of five approved private haulers. The problem? These companies are already at capacity.
In fact, only about 4,300 of the roughly 21,000 newly ineligible properties have been successfully added to contracts, leaving thousands scrambling for service
FOX 5 featured property manager Gina Bigilone, who described receiving “threatening letters” from the Environmental Services Department threatening service shutoffs. She and many others have struggled to secure haulers, even after demonstrating failed service attempts
What It Means for Owners & Residents
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Owners of small multi‑family units (up to four dwellings) now face fees just like single‑family residents, doubling their costs if they already pay private haulers.
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Residents of larger buildings—who already paid for trash service privately—were excluded from city options altogether.
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Both owners and residents are burdened by uncertainty, logistical stress, and steep expenses—without seamless transition support.
The Property Manager’s Burden
As a trusted intermediary, property management teams are now expected to:
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Secure private hauler contracts for multiple properties
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Notify and collect new trash fees from tenants
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Handle resident complaints, disruptions, and billing errors
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Navigate threats of service shutoff while dealing with limited vendor capacity
Gina shared how many property owners contacted her in panic—not sure where to turn or how to meet requirements when vendors are unavailable
The Real Impact: It’s a System Failure, Not a Trash Fee
Property managers and owners aren’t just financial intermediaries—they’re dealing with a poorly planned civic pivot that:
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Was oversold during the election (fee estimates doubled post‑vote)
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Was implemented before vendor capacity existed
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Relies on enforcement notices from the city—even when the system lacks fallback options
And now, lawsuits are underway, including one led by former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, claiming the fee violates Proposition 218 because it’s inflated and being diverted to unfunded city liabilities (like pensions and deferred maintenance)
Final Word: We Support Efficiency, Not Chaos
We understand the city needs revenue—but not if it comes at the expense of property integrity, resident service, or respectful service delivery. Property managers shouldn’t be emergency responders in a failed rollout.
At FBS, we’re working through these changes with transparency and advocacy—educating owners and residents about rights, fees, and realistic next steps.
Because navigating a dumpster fire is one thing. Navigating one when you’ve got no bins? That’s the real mess.
Let us help you stay ahead of the crisis with proactive communication, vendor backup plans, and stress-minimizing strategies.
