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Reno Today
By the People, for the People
Reno Residents Facing Higher Trash Bills as City Increases Sanitation Fees
City Council votes to raise franchise fees paid by Waste Management, leading to estimated $16.80 annual increase per household.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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The City of Reno has voted to increase the franchise fees paid by its sanitation provider, Waste Management, from 8% to 14% of the company's revenue. This move is expected to result in an estimated $16.80 per year increase in trash bills for Reno households, or about $4.20 per quarterly bill. The city says this is the first major increase in sanitation fees in decades and is necessary to address a $24 million budget deficit.
Why it matters
The increase in sanitation fees comes as the City of Reno faces a significant budget shortfall, with its largest revenue sources like franchise fees failing to keep up with inflation. While raising fees is unpopular, the city says the additional $5.5 million in revenue will help address the deficit and maintain services.
The details
The City Council voted 4-3 to approve the franchise fee increase, with Mayor Hillary Schieve, Vice Mayor Miguel Martinez, and Councilmember Meghan Ebert voting against it. The city says Waste Management, which handles Reno's trash collection, already charges an annual CPI increase of around 2-3% on top of the franchise fees. The increase puts Reno's sanitation fees in line with the neighboring city of Sparks, which raised its franchise fees from 8% to 14% last year.
- The City Council voted on the franchise fee increase on February 12, 2026.
- The new 14% franchise fee rate will go into effect immediately, leading to the estimated $16.80 annual increase in trash bills for Reno households.
The players
Vicki Van Buren
Director of Finance for the City of Reno.
Hillary Schieve
Mayor of Reno.
Miguel Martinez
Vice Mayor of Reno.
Meghan Ebert
Reno City Councilmember.
Waste Management
The sanitation company that handles trash collection in Reno.
What they’re saying
“Increasing fees is never popular. The thought process behind it, we do the ten-year modeling to see what actually works.”
— Vicki Van Buren, Director of Finance, City of Reno (2news.com)
“In times of this budget crisis, it will also start to bridge a gap as we move forward in a more long-term plan.”
— Vicki Van Buren, Director of Finance, City of Reno (2news.com)
What’s next
The city says it will continue to monitor the impact of the franchise fee increase and look for ways to further address its budget deficit, including potentially reducing services or freezing more open positions.
The takeaway
Reno's decision to raise sanitation fees highlights the financial challenges facing cities as their revenue sources fail to keep up with inflation. While unpopular, the move aims to shore up the city's budget and maintain essential services, underscoring the difficult trade-offs local governments must make in tough economic times.
