Oviedo residents may see significant increase in trash collection rates

Oviedo residents may be seeing a significant increase in their trash collection fees in the coming months. 

Following a solid waste rate study, it was determined that due to increasing costs, rates would need to be increased by about 17% to $29.29 per month starting in June, and then smaller annual increases to fend off inflation through 2030, by which time it would have risen to $32.16. 

The city’s solid waste collection includes garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk waste.

“We are seeing increases in costs that we can no longer absorb [at the current rate],” Oviedo City Manager Bryan Cobb said at the City Council’s March 30 work session.

The city struggled with inflation issues in the wake of inflation triggered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, solid waste rates were increased by $2.02 per month to $25, where it has stayed in the five years since. With the flat rate, the city has seen a decline in its solid waste fund balance from its peak of $263,000 in 2023 to $100,000 on Oct. 1, 2025, with a projected deficit in 2026 and beyond if the rate would remain at its current level.

“The fund needs to be self-sufficient, which means we have to have enough to cover the operating expenses,” said Tara Hollis, the city’s principal consultant from Willdan Financial Services.

Willdan’s projections show the city being able to consistently fund its solid waste fund balance through 2030 with the rate increase levels.

“If [the city] would have implemented the rate adjustment [at the beginning of the fiscal year on] Oct. 1, it wouldn’t be the $29, the break-even would have been less,” Hollis said. “But because we’re only going to have it in place for four months, we had to push the 2026 rate up higher to make up for the shortfalls that you already experienced from Oct. 1 until June 1.”

The initial plan was to include the salary for a full-time employee into the rate projections, but the majority of the City Council members asked for solid waste responsibilities to be added to an existing employee’s role at less of a cost, while still raising the rates by $4.29 initially.

”We’re not proactive enough with solid waste,” Public Works Director Bobby Wyatt said. “It always takes a second fiddle to something else; we always have other priorities going on usually. We don’t follow them around to check on them like we need to. There’s not enough contract administration.”

Wyatt said there are currently five people in the city who handle public waste work, including himself and Cobb. Mayor Megan Sladek also helps with solid waste oversight, Cobb said.

Prior to any increases becoming official, a notice of rate hearing would be provided on customers’ utility bills, followed by a public hearing before the potential adoption of the rate resolution. The dates of the city council meetings concerning this possible increase have not been announced.

Want to contact your elected leaders and weigh in on this topic? Find their contact information here. Have a news tip or opinion to share with OCN? Do that here.