Oviedo Trash Fees Rising to $29.29 Monthly

Oviedo City Council approved a residential solid waste rate increase on May 18, 2026, lifting the monthly charge for trash and recycling pickup from $25 to $29.29. The increase applies to roughly 13,000 households, according to WFTV, and city officials said the added revenue is meant to keep the solid waste program from slipping into deficit. A May 18 City Council agenda item identified the vote as Resolution No. 4717-26 and said the city had not updated residential solid waste rates since August 16, 2021. The agenda item said the city contracts with Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. for residential collection and pays disposal fees charged by Seminole County. ### When does the higher $29.29 charge start? June 1 is the planned start date for the new monthly fee, according to Oviedo Community News, which reported the council approved a 17% increase after earlier discussions at a March 30 work session. WFTV reported the council vote this week and said the city had framed the change as a response to rising operating costs. (wftv.com) The May 18 agenda packet said the monthly residential charge includes Waste Pro’s collection cost, disposal fees, government building collection costs, franchise fees and administrative fees collected by the city. The same document said city staff and consultant Willdan Financial reviewed current and projected operating costs over five years before bringing the increase to council. (oviedocommunitynews.org) ### Why did Oviedo say the rate had to go up now? The city’s explanation centered on costs and projected budget gaps. WFTV quoted Councilmember Keith Britton saying, “We would have about a $200,000 deficit in our general fund and it would increase if we didn’t do anything to about $3 million.” WFTV said officials linked that shortfall to rising operating costs in the trash and recycling system. (mynews13.com) The May 18 agenda memorandum said projected operating results under existing user fees were reviewed by council as part of the rate discussion. A separate April 7 solid waste rate study prepared for the city by Willdan Financial Services said the firm had completed a review of the city’s solid waste rates and charges and developed five-year projected operating results. (wftv.com) ### Who is affected and what services are covered? About 13,000 Oviedo households are affected, WFTV reported. The city agenda item described the service package as residential solid waste, recycling, yard waste, bulk waste collection, transport and disposal under an exclusive franchise agreement with Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. (mynews13.com) Spectrum News reported ahead of the vote that the discussion covered residential solid waste rates for nearly 12,500 residents in the city. After the vote, Spectrum reported the council approved an increase from $25 to just above $29. ### Had Oviedo kept the old rate in place for long? August 16, 2021, was the date of the city’s last residential solid waste rate update, according to the May 18 agenda item. (wftv.com) That means the $25 monthly charge had remained in place for nearly five years before this week’s action. (mynews13.com) March 30, 2026, was the date of the council work session where officials first publicly discussed updated residential solid waste rates using the consultant’s projections, the agenda item said. Local coverage in late March and early April also reported that city leaders were weighing a first increase since 2021. (mynews13.com) ### What happens next in Oviedo and nearby Longwood? June 1 is the next concrete date for Oviedo residents because that is when the $29.29 monthly fee is set to take effect, according to local reporting. Residents seeking the formal city action can look to the May 18, 2026, City Council agenda item for Resolution No. 4717-26. (mynews13.com) In Longwood, WFTV reported city leaders are considering a separate measure that would more than double water rates for residents. WFTV said that proposal received a first reading and a vote could come as early as next month. (wftv.com) (oviedocommunitynews.org)