[Glossary](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/) · Income and taxes # Waste collection fee **In short:** The waste collection fee is a local charge paid to the municipality for collecting, transporting and treating household waste and for keeping public places clean. **Simply put:** Unlike a tax, the fee pays for a specific service. Its size follows the municipality's costs for that service, approved in advance. That is why it differs between towns and years. **Example:** In its yearly budget a family lists the waste fee separately from property tax, so it sees how much it pays for the service and how much as tax. **General rule:** Waste charges are local; some places charge by property, others by the amount of waste. > **Example: Bulgaria** — the fee is governed by the Local Taxes and Fees Act, Articles 62–67: the amount is set for the calendar year from a cost plan approved by the municipal council; the services and collection frequency are set by the mayor's order, announced by 31 October of the year before (Article 63(2)). > > **Check in your country** — How the waste fee is set and paid where you live. **Source:** Local Taxes and Fees Act (Bulgaria): https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134174720 ## In depth in the modules - [Module 27](https://pecuvo.eu/en/modules/taxes-and-public-spending/) - [Module 15](https://pecuvo.eu/en/modules/life-strategies-by-stage/) ## Related terms - [Local taxes and fees](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/local-taxes/) - [Property tax](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/property-tax/) - [State and municipal budget](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/public-budget/)