St. Johns County residents will likely see a five-year staggered hike in garbage collection fees beginning in 2026.
The County Commission voted on Tuesday to let the Public Works Department notify residents of an initial potential increase roughly $80 next year — and a total $200 rise by 2030.
Currently, county homeowners pay $254 annually for garbage and recycling collection — a number that could rise to $454 in five years.
If approved at a an August 4 public meeting, the annual fees would be collected via property tax bills.
Public Works Director Greg Caldwell told the board that waste fees are rising across the board.
He noted that the proposed fees would put St. Johns County in the middle of the pack compared to other nearby areas — higher than Putnam and on par with St. Augustine Beach.
St. Johns would be roughly $75 less than Palm Coast and Flagler County, where garbage is collected twice weekly
This year’s proposed increase would be followed by another $60 jump in 2027, with smaller annual bumps through 2030—eventually bringing the total yearly cost for solid waste services to $454 per household.
Residents will get mail notification ahead of a public hearing set for August 5. The County Commission is slated to vote on the proposal that day.
