Monthly fee for waste collection services, provided by the capital city’s municipality, will increase from GEL 1.2 per family member to GEL 2.5 (about USD 1.4) starting from January, according to the decision passed by the Tbilisi City Council on December 27.

The move comes after the increase of household water tariffs in Tbilisi and increase of price of municipal transport tickets.

Tbilisi municipality cited increased cost to maintain the service and the need to upgrade waste collection infrastructure behind the decision to increase fees, but opposition members of the Tbilisi City Council, who were against of the decision, said the local government failed to provide detailed documented analysis of its argument. Socially vulnerable groups will have 50% discount. 

In an effort to secure collection of fees for cleaning services, the Parliament in October passed a legislative amendment according to which a household will have to pay electricity, natural gas, water and waste collection fees through integrated, single bill, meaning that in case of a failure to pay waste collection fee, it may be cut of electricity supply. Opposition was also strongly against of linking fees of separate utility services.