California’s Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission recently approved a waste collection rate increase that would add $12 a month over three and a half years.

The city says the rate increase is necessary because of population growth, increased frequency of street sweeping, organic food waste regulations and China’s strict import regulations.

A spokesperson for the city’s Public Works Department told KCRA News that due to China’s National Sword policy, the city last year made $500,000 from processing recyclables. Next year, it will likely cost the city $2 million to process recycling. 

KCRA has more:

The Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission approved Wednesday a potential rate hike to trash services in the city.

In a 6-2 vote, the commissioners approved the measure that would add $12 a month over the course of 3 ½ years.

According to the Sacramento Department of Public Works, the rate hike is needed for various reasons, including population growth, increasing the frequency of street sweeping and recent regulations on organic food waste.

Read the full article here.