Price increases: what lets the hauler raise your rate

Republic Services' published terms allow a surcharge or increase, on 60 days' written notice that may appear on the invoice, for: uncontrollable events and changes in law; cost increases measured by the trailing 12-month average of the CPI for water, sewer and trash collection services; higher disposal or processing costs; higher transportation and fuel costs; non-conforming waste or contamination; lower recyclable values; and services or equipment that differ from the service details.^[1]

The CPI series it names is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and charted on FRED as CUUR0000SEHG.^[2] That index covers water and sewer as well as trash, so it is a broad yardstick, not a measure of your hauler's costs.

WM's published terms list similar grounds and add that a permitted increase may include an amount for profit and is not limited to passing through cost.^[3]

It is an increase for a reason not on the list, which takes effect unless you refuse it. In Republic's terms, the company may increase charges at any time and for any other reason by notice on the invoice; your consent can be shown by your actions, and unless the notice says otherwise every adjustment is treated as an agreed one. You have 30 days to object by calling customer service; after that, continuing to receive and pay for service counts as consent.^[1]

WM's terms work the same way, with one useful difference: if you object to a consensual increase, you may end the agreement in writing within 30 days of the notice, and liquidated damages don't apply to that termination.^[3]

Continuing to receive and pay for service after the objection period counts as consent.

Some local franchise rules do. The City of Sacramento requires franchised haulers to give commercial customers written notice of price increases at least 30 days before they take effect.^[4] Republic's terms add that customers inside the Sacramento-area franchises get at least 60 days' written notice of proposed increases to franchise rates.^[1] Where a city or county sets maximum franchise rates, those published rates are the ceiling; see published rate sheets.

• A fixed rate for the first 12 months.
• One increase a year at most, capped at a stated percentage or at the change in a named index over the prior 12 months.
• No increases by invoice message: written notice to a named contact, at least 60 days ahead.
• Written consent for any increase outside the listed reasons, and a right to end the agreement without charge if you refuse it.

The contract rider has wording for each.