Winter Garden's standard garbage cart rises to $26.61 a month from October 1

Winter Garden's monthly rate for the standard 95-gallon garbage cart went from $24.87 to $26.61 on October 1, 2026. The City Commission approved Resolution 26-07 at its September 29, 2026 meeting; the minutes record the motion "carried unanimously 5-0".

What changed

• The standard cart: a single-family home's 95-gallon cart costs $26.61 a month, up from $24.87. ClickOrlando put the difference at "$1.74 a month, or about $21 a year".
• Multi-family homes billed per cart also pay $26.61 a month.
• A new, smaller cart: a 65-gallon cart for single-family homes costs $24.87 a month. Assistant City Manager for Public Services Stephen Pash told the commission it is proposed for residents who produce less waste.
• The percentage: the rate study recommended "A 7.00% increase to 95-gallon residential cart" service for fiscal year 2027. Its 6.5% is a different figure: the rate study's estimate of "the overall increase in revenues for Fiscal Year 2027", not the household cart rate.
• Businesses and dumpsters: ClickOrlando reports that the rate study recommended "an 18.9% increase for commercial cart service and a 5.58% increase for customers using commercial and multifamily dumpsters".

When

• Approved: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the City Commission's budget hearings and regular meeting.
• In effect: "The Solid Waste Fee Schedule is effective October 1, 2026."
• Set to rise each year: the adopted schedule runs by fiscal years ending September 30. For the 95-gallon cart it is $27.54 in fiscal year 2028, $28.50 in 2029, $29.50 in 2030 and $30.09 in 2031. The last step is "Effective October 1st, 2030".
• The smaller cart: $24.87 through fiscal year 2028, then $25.33 in fiscal year 2029, $26.22 in 2030 and $26.74 in 2031.
• Also adjustable: the fee schedule also says rates "shall be adjusted on an annual basis based on the CPI".

Where

Winter Garden's city garbage service, under the city's revised solid waste fee schedule.

What it means if you live here

• On the standard cart: your monthly garbage charge is $26.61 from October 1, 2026.
• If you put out less trash: the 65-gallon cart costs $24.87 a month, the same as the old rate for the standard cart. Asked how single-family households could request it, Mr. Pash said residents could contact Solid Waste to request one, according to the minutes.
• How many may switch: the rate study estimated that "up to 5% of residential customers may take advantage" of the smaller cart.
• It is not a permanent freeze: the smaller cart's rate is scheduled to stay at $24.87 through fiscal year 2028 and rise after that.