San Diego launches long-waited subsidy program for new trash fee

San Diego launched on Thursday a long-waited subsidy program for property owners struggling to pay the city’s new trash fee, which ranges from $32.82 per month to $43.60 per month depending on the level of service.

The city began accepting online applications Thursday and will award either full subsidies or 50% subsidies to about 7,000 trash customers on a first-come, first-served basis. The website is Maacproject.org/SDSWAssistance/

To be eligible, applicants must own their property and live in it as their primary residence.

Also, total household income must be less than 60% of the state’s area median income, or at least one person in the household must be enrolled in CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, CalFresh or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Monthly income limits in 2026 are $3,331 for a one-person household, $4,356 for a two-person household, $5,382 for a three-person household, $6,407 for a four-person household and $7,432 for a five-person household.

Most people receiving a subsidy will get 50% off. But property owners who are on a payment plan with the county for past due property taxes — meaning they have been delinquent for more than a year — could get a 100% subsidy if they meet the other criteria.

Jeremy Bauer, assistant director of the city’s Environmental Services Department, said ...