Sidney residents will see higher waste collection fees on their next quarterly utility bill. The Town of Sidney has raised refuse rates across all service levels, adding $1.00 to Full Service, bringing it to $64.00 per quarter. Basic Service increases $0.75 to $44.25, and Commercial Service climbs $2.00 to $106.50.
The updated rates took effect as part of the 2026-2030 Financial Plan adopted by Town Council on March 16, 2026. Extra bag stickers are also more expensive: garbage stickers are now $8.00, up from $7.75, and yard waste stickers are $6.25, up from $6.00.
Waste collection operating costs are paid entirely through user charges, the town says. Fees appear on the quarterly utility bill alongside water and sewer charges. Collection of garbage and kitchen organics is contracted to Emterra Environmental. Curbside recycling is handled by the Capital Regional District and billed separately through property taxes.
Director of Finance Andrew Hicik told council the overall budget increase was “six years in the making,” pointing to pandemic tax reductions that began in 2020. Property tax revenues were cut by $576,000 while spending stayed steady, and one-time grants have since run out.
The refuse rate changes are one piece of a broader budget that brought a 9.37 percent general tax increase this year. For the average home, all utility and tax changes work out to an extra $9.16 per quarter. The town says it expects increases to become more moderate in future years.
