Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Residents and business owners within the Dripping Springs city limits will see a rate increase for Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) trash and recycling services, following approval by city council at its Tuesday, April 7, meeting.
Council approved entering into a solid waste services agreement with TDS at its June 17, 2025, meeting, after the city had been using Waste Connections Lone Star since 2017, when it acquired Vaquero Waste and Recycling, and was selected again in 2020. In accordance with the agreement, TDS notified the city of a proposed annual rate increase in March 2026.
“TDS is allowed to ask for a rate increase. They will base it off a certain portion of the Consumer Price Index and they are allowed to come to us each year and ask for it,” said deputy city administrator Shawn Cox. “As long as it is not an unjust or unreasonable ask, council should accept it.”
Council member Travis Crow asked if council chooses to do the rate increase, when would be the earliest that TDS could request for another one.
Based on the Consumer Price Index, they would be allowed to ask annually around July — as that is when the initial agreement went into effect — but there may be some years that they don’t come back with another proposal if that doesn’t change, Cox explained.
“I just didn’t know with fuel surcharges, fuel going up. I get my fuel surcharges for the stuff I buy on a weekly basis, so I just didn’t know,” Crow said. “Hopefully, fuel will go down, but if it doesn’t, then I know that is a big burden that y’all are having to take into account.”
The proposed increase on the residential trash and recycling trash services is as follows:
• 96-gallon trash (weekly): Current rate at $14.80 with a proposed rate of $15.54
• 96-gallon recycling (weekly): Current rate at $6.75 with a proposed rate of $7.09
The total bill for customers, if they choose to use the optional recycling service, would be $22.63 with the proposed rate increase.
The item was placed on the regular agenda, but Cox noted that it would be up to council’s discretion if it would be placed on the consent agenda portion going forward.
Council member Geoffrey Tahuahua said that it’s helpful to have it on the business agenda in case council has any further discussion or questions.
Mayor Bill Foulds shared that “as mayor, I would never put the agenda out there with it on consent” because of transparency reasons.
The rate increase was unanimously approved.
TDS and the city will reach out to customers to notify them of the new rates, which will go into effect July 1.
