Waste Management's Proposed $180 Waste Fee Targets Residents, Spares Government Amid Fiscal Strain

The V.I. Waste Management Authority says its proposed $180 annual solid waste fee would apply only to residential units and vacant lots, exempting government agencies due to financial hardship, with projected revenue of up to $9.8 million.

Facing continued financial strain and a $5 million budget gap, the V.I. Waste Management Authority is proposing a $180 annual fee for solid waste collection, disposal, and maintenance—one it hopes will bring the agency closer to self-sustainability.

The fee, if approved by the Public Services Commission, would apply to residential units and residential vacant lots, but exempt commercial properties and government agencies.

WMA Interim Executive Director Daryl Griffith shared details of the proposed fee during his FY2026 budget presentation before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Monday evening. “The fee is expected to cover the cost of house-to-house collections, bin sites, convenience centers, public housing, government agencies and school garbage collection as well as transportation to the landfills,” Mr. Griffith testified.

The proposed fee amounts to $15 per month, and is expected to generate as much as $9.8 million annually based on WMA’s estimate of 34,022 residential units and 20,718 parcels. However, the agency has based its revenue projections on a 70% collection rate, which would yield approximately $6.8 million.