Waste management costs will rise by approximately 1.6 million euros in 2027. Key factors contributing to this include higher levies as well as increased collection and disposal costs. Contractual price escalation clauses, higher diesel and energy costs, and collective bargaining-related increases in personnel costs are all impacting expenses. At the same time, revenues from the recycling of recyclable materials are declining. This particularly affects waste paper, where both revenues and the volumes collected are decreasing. In addition, the co-use fees paid to the dual systems are lower.
Higher Drawdown from Surpluses Limits Fee Increase
To keep the fee increase for 2027 as low as possible, higher surpluses from previous years are being utilized. As a result, fees for the model household will rise by only 0.8 percent. For a four-person household with ten collections of residual waste and ten collections of organic waste per year, this corresponds to an additional cost of 1.70 euros per year, or about 14 cents per month. The residual waste collection fees will increase, while the organic waste collection fees will remain unchanged.
However, the increased use of fee surpluses means that fewer funds from previous years will be available in the coming years.
Waste fees are not a tool for generating revenue
Waste fees are calculated on a cost-recovery basis. They finance the costs of waste management and are not intended to generate additional revenue for the district budget. The fee budget is a separate, earmarked fund. Any cost surpluses that arise at the end of the year must, in accordance with legal requirements, be returned to fee payers within five years. The Ludwigsburg District consistently implements this policy.
Efficient Waste Management Infrastructure for Residents
In exchange for their fees, residents receive a comprehensive range of services related to waste disposal and recycling. This includes reliable waste collection, an efficient waste management infrastructure, and numerous options for environmentally sound recycling and disposal. Glass bottles are also picked up at the curb as part of the existing system.
A comprehensive network of recycling centers and shredding sites rounds out the services. Bulky waste can be picked up free of charge or dropped off at the recycling centers. The customer portal also offers numerous digital services, including digital fee notices, collection requests, and bulky waste pickup requests. These services are complemented by personalized advice from the customer service team of the relevant department and AVL.
Proper sorting helps keep costs down
Citizens, too, can help support waste management economically by carefully sorting their trash. Sorting waste as thoroughly as possible facilitates recycling and helps ensure that recyclable materials are effectively returned to the cycle. The fees for organic waste collection remain unchanged and thus continue to be affordable.
This moderate adjustment is intended to ensure that waste management costs continue to be reliably covered and that proven waste disposal services are secured for the long term.
