Town of Apple Valley
Town Council May 12, 2026
Public Comments
Honorable Mayor and Members of the Town Council,
I am wriƟng to formally express my opposiƟon to the proposed increase in residenƟal trash service rates.
Over the past year, the Town’s waste management program has undergone significant changes, including the addiƟon of a third waste bin and corresponding collecƟon services. While these changes may have been implemented with good intenƟons, their execuƟon has resulted in increased operaƟonal acƟvity—such as mulƟple collecƟon trucks servicing neighborhoods—and addiƟonal monitoring efforts related to waste sorƟng compliance.
From a resident perspecƟve, these changes have introduced several challenges:
Increased responsibility to sort household waste into mulƟple categories Ongoing maintenance and cleaning of a separate food waste container to miƟgate odors and pests
The requirement to manage three bins for weekly collecƟon and retrieval PotenƟal noƟces or penalƟes related to compliance with sorƟng guidelines These added responsibiliƟes place a disproporƟonate burden on residents, parƟcularly seniors and individuals with limited mobility who may already struggle to manage a single bin.
AddiƟonally, it is unclear whether the uƟlizaƟon of the third bin jusƟfies the increased operaƟonal costs associated with addiƟonal vehicles, fuel, and staffing. A data-driven review of actual parƟcipaƟon rates and program efficiency would be beneficial before further financial impacts are passed on to residents.
Residents are already required to parƟcipate in and pay for municipal waste services. Given the increased workload placed on households and the quesƟons surrounding program costeffecƟveness, I do not believe there is sufficient jusƟficaƟon for a rate increase at this Ɵme.
I respecƞully request that the Council carefully review the financial and operaƟonal impacts of these program changes, including resident uƟlizaƟon and overall effecƟveness, before approving any increase in fees.
Thank you for your Ɵme and consideraƟon.
Respecƞully submiƩed,
Ingrid Rojas