DOWNINGTOWN, PA — Downingtown Borough residents will see a sharp increase in their annual refuse bills beginning in 2026, with the fee rising from $240 to $360 as higher costs from the borough’s contracted waste hauler take effect.
Borough officials said the increase reflects mounting service costs that could no longer be absorbed without raising rates. The borough used its refuse fund balance to offset those higher expenses in 2025, avoiding an increase for that year, but that reserve has now been depleted and must be rebuilt to ensure uninterrupted service.
The refuse fund operates strictly as a pass-through account, borough officials emphasized. The borough does not generate revenue or retain surplus from the fee. All funds collected are used solely to pay the contracted hauler for waste collection services.
Officials said rebuilding the fund balance is necessary to maintain reliable and stable refuse service for residents in the years ahead, particularly as waste collection costs continue to climb across the region.
The new $360 annual fee will take effect in 2026. Borough leaders said they recognize the impact on households but described the adjustment as unavoidable given current cost pressures.
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