FAQs

Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a garbage rate model that charges households based on how much trash they generate—similar to how you pay for electricity or gas. Instead of a flat fee, residents who throw away less pay less, and those who throw away more pay more.

Bloomington currently has a limited PAYT structure, with only small price differences between cart sizes. This means households that generate very little trash often pay almost the same as households filling a large cart. Many residents have told us they don’t see this as fair.

By increasing the price difference between smaller and larger carts, Bloomington can better connect costs to actual usage. This encourages households to reduce waste, recycle, and compost more—helping keep overall disposal costs lower while benefiting the environment.

PAYT is not new—more than 9,000 communities across the U.S. and many around the world use it. While utilities like electricity are charged by exact units, most PAYT programs use cart size (volume-based pricing) because it’s not practical to weigh household garbage each week.

As the cost and environmental consequences of garbage disposal rapidly increase, the City wants to keep garbage bills affordable while also encouraging residents to reduce waste, recycle more, and compost food scraps and yard waste. Producing less garbage is both better for the environment and more cost-effective for residents.

Currently, Bloomington’s residential garbage is processed at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), where it is incinerated to produce electricity. Disposal costs at HERC have risen 47% in just six years—from $58 per ton in 2019 to a projected $85 per ton in 2026.

While recycling and composting costs have also gone up, they remain more affordable than garbage disposal:

• Recycling and organics are not taxed, while trash is taxed at a much higher rate.
• The value of recycled materials helps offset program costs.
• Removing recyclables and organics from the garbage stream helps HERC operate more efficiently, slowing disposal cost increases.

By designing garbage rates that provide stronger financial incentives to recycle and compost, the City can help residents save money over time while also reducing environmental impacts.  Currently, the difference in price between cart sizes is too small to encourage residents to recycle or compost more. Doubling service costs only about $4 more per month. Research shows stronger incentives (a 50–80% increase for double the volume) are needed to change behavior.

If approved, the updated PAYT rates will go into effect in 2026, and the new small every-other-week garbage service level would begin at that time. Residents would be able to request the new every-other-week service level beginning on November 18. Residents can request a cart size change at anytime. To change your cart size, contact Utility Billing at 952-563-8726.

• Every-other-week 35-gallon cart (new service level!): $7.93/month
• 35-gallon weekly cart: $10.57/month
• 65-gallon cart: $18.50/month
• 95-gallon cart: $26.43/month

Here is how the new proposed rates will affect your bill compared to the projected 2026 costs if the City kept its rate structure the same as it is today.

• If you keep a 95-gallon cart, you’ll pay about 32% more.
• If you keep a 65-gallon cart, you’ll pay about 17% more.
• If you keep a 35-gallon cart, you’ll actually pay about 9.5% less.
• If you downsize to a smaller cart size (35 gallon or EOW), you can save 30% or more.

On average, Bloomington households are expected to pay slightly less than they would under previously projected 2026 rates.

Residents can set out extra bags of garbage for a small fee per bag set out.

All cart requests must go through the City of Bloomington (not directly to haulers). You can request a change by:

• Submitting an online form (link available in November 2025 if the new PAYT rates are adopted)
• Calling Utility Billing at 952-563-8726
• Emailing UtilityBilling@BloomingtonMN.gov

If the new PAYT rate structure is adopted by City Council on November 17, 2025, cart swaps will happen in phases to handle the high volume of requests:

• Requests submitted by December 15, 2025 → New cart delivered by January 31, 2026.
• Requests submitted after December 15, 2025 → New cart delivered in February–March 2026.
• After April 2026 → Cart swaps return to the normal year-round process (one free swap per household per year, fee for additional swaps).

Important: Your bill will change as soon as you submit your request, not when your new cart is delivered.

The EOW service lets households choose a 35-gallon cart collected every other week for a proposed rate of $7.93/month. This is ideal for households that generate very little garbage.

Residents can begin requesting the every-other-week small garabage service level as soon as November 18.   

• Requests submitted by December 15, 2025 → New cart delivered by January 31, 2026.
• Requests submitted after December 15, 2025 → New cart delivered in February–March 2026.
• After April 2026 → Cart swaps return to the normal year-round process (one free swap per household per year, fee for additional swaps).  

Residents can set out extra bags of garbage for a small fee per bag set out.

With stronger incentives, garbage tonnage is projected to decrease by more than 4,000 tons annually, raising Bloomington’s overall diversion rate from 40% to 55%.

Increased recycling, composting, and source reduction lower greenhouse gas emissions and conserve resources.

Any change in rates will affect all households that currently participate in the City’s organized garbage collection program.  This includes all single-family homes, duplexes, and some townhome complexes that have opted to participate in the organized collection program.

The City surveyed over 500 homes (cart fullness study) and had more than 800 residents respond to an online survey. City Council and hauler partners have also been engaged throughout the process.   Read the full Solid Waste Rate Study Report to learn more.

• October 20, 2025 – City Council Study Session on 2026 Utility Rates and Budget.
• November 17, 2025 – Utility Rate Public Hearing (residents can provide feedback).
• November 17, 2025 – Council votes to officially adopt the 2026 rates.

No. Recycling will continue to be collected every other week, which is cost-effective and consistent with national best practices.

Most Bloomington households already have a 65-gallon recycling cart. If you need more space, you can:

• Request a 95-gallon cart at no extra cost, or
• Request a second recycling cart, also at no extra cost.

Yes.  The City plans to continue collecting the same materials for recycling and curbside organics collection.  We do regularly review the list of materials we collect for recycling to make sure that there are good end markets (users) for the materials that are collected.  Those end markets have been stable for many years, and we anticipate that those markets will continue to use the materials that are collected for many years to come.

No. State Statute and Hennepin County ordinance require the City to charge all residents for these services if they are offered.

National studies show PAYT does not cause long-term increases in illegal dumping. Some communities see a short-term spike (lasting up to 3 months), but issues typically subside. Bloomington’s extra bag program and enforcement will help prevent this problem.

Odor concerns aren’t expected to increase. Residents already manage odors with the current garbage and organics collection system. Organics recycling collection will remain a weekly service and eliminates food waste in garbage carts.

Bloomington is exploring affordability programs as part of its Utility Rate Affordability Task Force (planned for 2026). In the meantime, all residents—including low-income households—can reduce their bills by choosing smaller carts and maximizing recycling and composting.

Studies show PAYT does not increase recycling contamination. Bloomington’s recycling program already includes robust outreach and quality controls.