Toronto water, garbage rates going up 3.75%

Toronto city councillors approved Tuesday an increase to your water and garbage bills, saying the added costs are needed to maintain the infrastructure that keeps the programs running.

Both rates are going up by 3.75 per cent in 2025. 

Here's what that will look like for your bill, according to a city news release:

• If you have a small garbage bin, you'll pay $11.07 more per year for a total price of $306.36. If you have an extra-large bin, your cost will increase by $21.18, for a total of $585.89.
• Your water bill depends on your usage. The city said an average household uses 230 cubic metres of water per year. If that's you, your bill will increase by $39, to a total of $1,078.

These are interim rates that kick in on Jan. 1.

It's important to note these rates might change as city council crafts its latest budget. That process usually wraps in February. 

• This fall, city hall reporter Shawn Jeffords took a detailed look at what the city's doing with its stormwater infrastructure in the wake of this summer's widespread flooding. You can read more about that here.