Rate hikes for garbage and recycling in Santa Cruz County

If you live or operate a business in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, you’ll be paying more for garbage and recycling.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new rate structure that will increase residential bills for Green Waste refuse and recycling service by approximately $2.50 a year in each of the next three years.

Commercial rates would also rise under the plan.

The County says the increases are needed to help meet rising costs of refuse and recycling management, including maintenance costs and new state mandates that expand reporting requirements, set higher recycling goals and require organic material collection in commercial and multi-family buildings.