New Orleans Pauses Trash Fee Hike Amid Data Discrepancies

City auditors uncover mismatch between billed accounts and actual service locations.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:53am

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A photorealistic painting of a single trash can on a New Orleans street corner, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement and buildings in the background.As New Orleans reviews its trash service data, a solitary garbage can stands as a symbol of the city's efforts to ensure fair and transparent billing for essential sanitation operations.New Orleans Today

New Orleans officials have put a proposed increase to the city's monthly trash collection fee on hold after discovering significant discrepancies in the data used to track residential trash service. An audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found a 30,000-home gap between the number of accounts billed for trash pickup and the number of homes actually receiving service, potentially costing the city millions annually.

Why it matters

The data issues raise concerns about the accuracy of the city's sanitation billing and service delivery, potentially impacting future fee adjustments and the city's ability to properly fund critical waste management operations.

The details

According to city data, New Orleans currently charges residents $24 per month for once-weekly trash pickup, a rate that has not changed since 2011. However, the total cost of the city's $62 million annual sanitation budget far exceeds the $38 million generated by those fees, leaving a $24 million shortfall covered by the general fund. As the city considered raising trash fees to address this gap, auditors discovered a mismatch between billing records and vendor data on actual service locations.

  • The current $24 monthly trash fee has been in place since 2011.
  • After Hurricane Ida in 2021, residents lost twice-weekly trash pickup.
  • The city is currently reviewing its sanitation data and considering a potential fee increase.

The players

Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack

The state auditor's office is leading the review of New Orleans' trash service data and billing discrepancies.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno

The mayor has agreed to wait for the audit results before proposing any changes to the city's trash collection fees.

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What they’re saying

“If you do the math on $24, that is a big difference. It's about a $9 million difference on an annual basis. So we need to make sure we get the math right.”

— Mike Waguespack, Louisiana Legislative Auditor

“We must ensure that the cost for services is accurate as we work to reset the fee. Therefore, I agree with the auditor that an audit to verify the number of households being serviced is essential.”

— Helena Moreno, Mayor of New Orleans

What’s next

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office is expected to complete its review of New Orleans' trash service data within the next several weeks. The results of this audit will guide the city's decisions on any future adjustments to residential trash collection fees.

The takeaway

This data discrepancy highlights the importance of thorough record-keeping and transparent billing practices for essential municipal services like waste management. Resolving these issues could help New Orleans better align its trash collection costs and revenue, ensuring fair and sustainable funding for this critical infrastructure.