HOUSTON – Houston city leaders say a proposed new monthly fee for trash services could help fix a struggling system, but many residents are asking a key question: where would that money actually go?
KPRC 2 News reporter Rilwan Balogun took that question directly to Mayor John Whitmire and city officials at City Hall.
What is the proposed fee?
The proposal is part of the mayor’s broader budget plan and would introduce what officials call a $5 monthly “administrative fee” for solid waste services, if approved by council.
City leaders emphasize this is not a traditional garbage fee. Instead, they describe it as a first step toward restructuring how Houston funds trash collection.
Under the plan:
- Residents would pay $5 per month in 2027 and 2028
- The fee would increase by $5 each year starting in 2029
- By 2032, households would pay $25 per month closer to the actual cost of service
Officials say the gradual increase is meant to avoid sudden costs for residents, who have historically not paid a direct fee for trash pickup.
Mayor John Whitmire’s Deputy Chief of Staff Steven David says this doesn’t account for households that might receive discounts.
“Maybe it’s a senior discount. Maybe it’s a low to moderate income discount,” David said.
Where would the money go?
When asked directly, Mayor John Whitmire said the goal is to improve service and stabilize the system.
“There’s a lot of misinformation going around,” Whitmire said. “This is to improve the service, cover the overhead, and have the kind of quality service that people expect.”
According to Public Works Director Randy Macchi, the $5 fee would generate about $25 million annually, far short of the roughly $110 million it costs the city each year to operate solid waste services. Under the plan, solid waste would move to the purview of public works.
That money, Macchi says, would primarily go toward:
- Staffing and workforce needs
- Upgrading aging infrastructure
- Improving facilities like transfer stations
- Modernizing the city’s fleet of garbage trucks
“There’s so much need within the Solid Wasted Division that that $5 is going to do,” he said.
Will residents see improvements?
Some city leaders believe the changes will make a noticeable difference.
Willie Davis, an at-large council member, said his office frequently hears complaints about trash service.
“I think absolutely they will,” Davis said when asked if residents would see improvements. “It’s going to be a work in progress.”
A system under strain
A major issue the city is trying to address involves its transfer stations, facilities where trash is temporarily held before being taken to landfills.
Out of five city transfer stations:
- Southeast Transfer Station 1502 Central Street
- Functioning, per city
- Southwest Transfer Station 5904 Westpark Drive
- Functioning, per city
- Northeast Transfer Station 5711 Neches Street
- Under construction, per city
- Northwest Transfer Station 14421 Sommermeyer St
- Closed-in design/RCA 5/13 - demo scheduled 6/26, per city
City officials say those limitations slow down trash collection and increase costs.
“They’re like giant holes in the roof,” said Steven David, describing the condition of some facilities.
Because trucks must travel farther when stations are down, routes take longer, leading to overtime costs and service delays.
Why move solid waste under public works?
The proposal would also shift solid waste from the city’s general fund, where it competes with police, fire, and parks, into Houston Public Works as a revenue-generating utility.
City officials say that change could allow Houston to:
- Invest more consistently in infrastructure
- Potentially generate revenue through fully functioning transfer stations
- Address long-term budget challenges
According to David, if all five transfer stations were operational and managed by the city, Houston could generate $20–25 million annually by charging third-party haulers.
Budget pressures behind the proposal
The fee is part of a larger effort to address Houston’s growing budget deficit.
City projections show:
- A potential $209 million shortfall in fiscal year 2027
- Increasing to $446 million in the following years if no action is taken
Officials warn that without new revenue, the city could face significant cuts to services like libraries and parks.
What happens next?
The proposal is still in its early stages and must be approved as part of the city’s budget process.
For now, city leaders say the fee is intended to create a more sustainable system. But questions remain about how quickly residents would see improvements — and exactly how the money will be spent.
As those discussions continue, reporters say they plan to keep pressing city leaders for answers.