Mission Country Disposal customers in Los Osos could soon see a 13 percent increase in their trash bills.

Pam Ouelette of Los Osos says that after learning that trash rates could go up, she could at least make one change.

“We thought about going to the smaller bin because we don’t generate a lot of trash and that might be something we’re going to do,” she said.

If you have a 20 gallon bin, you could see an increase of over $3 per month. For a 32 gallon bin, an increase of over $5 and for a 64 gallon bin, an increase of almost $8. The Los Osos Community Services District meets Thursday to discuss approving rate increases.

“If they tentatively approve the rates, then we go into a Proposition 218 process, which requires us to notify our customers and property owners of the rate increase,” said Ron Munds, general manager of the Los Osos Community Services District.

If this tentative approval passes, people in the community will then receive a notification in the mail. Under Prop 218, customers have the ability to protest any increase in fees, such as trash and water.

“Under Proposition 218, there has to be a 50 percent plus one majority protest for the rates not to move forward if approved by the board,” Munds said.

The CSD will consider adopting the new rates in January.

According to CSD’s agenda, it states Mission Country Disposal’s increased rates are necessary due to increased organic processing costs, landfill disposal costs and collection costs such as labor, vehicles and operating expenses .

Just three years ago, Munds says Los Osos trash customers saw a 42 percent rate increase implemented by San Luis Obispo County.

“That’s why we’re very sensitive right now to this proposed rate increase in particular,” Munds said.

“Given the growth we experienced a few years ago, it doesn’t sit well with me,” said Carol Lowell of Los Osos.

This increase has caused some customers to switch to smaller baskets.

“I traded my regular trash can for one of those little boxes that my tenant and I carefully manage our trash production,” Lowell said.

She says another raise would have a big impact not only on her but also on her sister.

“I’m running errands for my sister and she’s on disability and her garbage rate went from $50 to $60 to more than $100 and that’s 10 percent of her social security check so let’s “I imagine it’s going to grow back, it’s very discouraging,” Lowell said.

After the CSD hearing in January, unless there is a successful protest and the new rates are approved, Munds says customers billed after Jan. 1 will start seeing an increase at that time.