DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — Dothan residents could see higher monthly garbage fees and the end of curbside recycling under proposed changes to the city’s solid waste program.
According to a City of Dothan presentation on proposed solid waste ordinance revisions, the city currently serves 26,913 households. The current monthly household solid waste fee is $14.75.
Under the proposal, the monthly fee would increase to $20 beginning Oct. 1, 2026. Residents requesting a second garbage cart would pay an additional $10 per month.
The proposed household fee would then increase to $25 per month in 2027, $30 in 2028 and $35 in 2029. Beginning Oct. 1, 2030, the solid waste fee would increase by 3.5% each year. The presentation notes that annual increases could decrease based on the city’s year-end audit.
The proposal would also end curbside recycling pickup while keeping recycling drop-off centers available.
Weekly green waste pickup, which includes natural yard debris such as grass clippings, limbs and trees, would continue. The city presentation says green waste would generally be limited to about 5 cubic yards per scheduled collection.
Brush, limbs and similar woody material would have to be placed in neat piles separate from bagged green waste. Bulky items would be collected only by request, with residents required to contact Environmental Services to create a service ticket.
The proposed ordinance also outlines materials the city would not collect as part of its residential green waste or bulky refuse programs. Those include certain building and construction materials, vehicle parts, hazardous refuse and some debris created by contractors.
Residents who do not follow the collection requirements could face additional costs. According to the proposal, the minimum fee for collection of noncompliant materials would be $500, with additional fees possible if multiple trips are needed.
The proposal includes exemptions from the service charge for households whose sole source of income is Social Security benefits or veterans benefits. The exemption would remain in place only while those benefits remain the household’s sole source of income.
Households expected to be vacant for at least three months could also apply for an exemption through the city’s utility collections division.
The city is also proposing a Helping Hands Program for eligible residents who are physically unable to place or retrieve their garbage cart. The program would have no fee, require an application submitted to a physician and would be available when no other able-bodied person lives in the household. Annual renewal would be required.
The presentation estimates that providing garbage, trash and recycling service will cost $35.06 per household per month in 2027. The city projects $14.91 for garbage service, $16.03 for trash and $4.12 for recycling.
The presentation states the proposed changes are designed to make the Solid Waste Fund self-sufficient so it would not require a transfer from the city’s General Fund.
The changes outlined in the presentation are proposals and should not be considered in effect unless approved by the City of Dothan.
