Toronto – Toronto City Council approved a planned 3.75 per cent interim increase to the rates for Solid Waste Management Services (SWMS) and Toronto Water. The increases will support the continued delivery of important services such as waste management and water treatment while also funding projects to build and maintain the infrastructure needed to deliver these services.
The interim rates and fees will take effect Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Final rates and fees will be determined through the 2025 Operating and Capital Budget process, which will launch on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Solid Waste Management Services
SWMS rates pay for much more than residential garbage collection. They are investments in unlimited collection of yard waste, organics, oversized and metal items and electronics. They also fund city-wide litter collection, Community Environment Days, street and park bin collection, drop-off depots and the ongoing care of closed landfills.
In 2025, factoring in the 3.75 per cent increase, the yearly solid waste fee for a single-family household will be $306.36 for a small bin (an increase of $11.07), $371.91 for a medium bin (an increase of $13.44), $505.12 for a large bin (an increase of $18.26) and $585.89 for an extra-large bin (an increase of $21.18).
Toronto Water
Toronto Water provides safe drinking water, collects and treats wastewater and manages stormwater while investing in infrastructure to support growth, address aging assets and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
For the average Toronto household using 230 cubic metres of water per year, the 3.75 per cent interim rate increase will mean an additional $39 annually, for a total annual cost of $1,078 in 2025.
Relief programs
The City offers relief programs to provide rebates on water and solid waste charges for eligible low-income seniors and people living with a disability. More information about these programs is available on the City’s Tax and Utility Relief website.
2025 Budget
Toronto residents can join Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North) for telephone town halls about the 2025 Budget in January 2025. Residents can also share their feedback about the 2025 Budget with members of the Budget Committee on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22, 2025, either in person or via video conference. The meetings will stream live on the City Council YouTube channel 
. Additional details, including times, locations and registration information, will be released in January.