Check a Transportation User Fee or trash-cart charge

Short answer

Two bill lines cause most Austin fee questions: the Transportation User Fee, which follows property type and size, and the trash-cart charge, which follows your cart size. We check yours against the current rules and file the correction or exemption question.

Who this is for

Austin residents who think their Transportation User Fee tier is wrong, who qualify for a fee exemption, or whose trash-cart charge does not match the cart they have.

The steps, in order

1. Choose the fee you are asking about: Transportation User Fee or trash cart.
2. Give only the safe facts: property type, cart size, or exemption basis.
3. We check the current city rule for that line.
4. Review the prepared correction or exemption request when one fits, then use the official route to send it.
5. Confirm the change on the next bill.

Have this ready

• Which fee is in question
• Your property type or cart size
• Any exemption basis (like a qualifying discount program)
• Your next bill date

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the fee tier cannot change; property reclassification and exemption programs both exist.
• Downsizing the cart by just stopping use; the charge follows the assigned cart until the city changes it.

Common questions

Can I get the Transportation User Fee reduced in Austin?

Exemptions exist for qualifying low-income customers and some property situations. The fee is set by property type and size, so a wrong classification is also correctable.

How do I change my Austin trash-cart size?

Austin Resource Recovery sets the charge by cart size. A smaller cart lowers the line item; the request goes to ARR and the change shows on a later bill.

Official sources

• Transportation User Fee
• Austin Resource Recovery residential rates

Last reviewed August 26, 2026 against the official source.

Related

• Austin Transportation User Fee: who gets the exemption