Homeowners can claim up to $250 in $40 million trash collection settlement — see if you qualify

A trash company called BFI Waste Services LLC agreed to pay $40 million to settle claims that it charged customers too much for waste collection. The case said the company raised prices more than what some customer contracts allowed. BFI Waste Services did not admit doing anything wrong but agreed to settle to avoid a long court fight.

Homeowners who paid these extra charges between January 1, 2017, and September 30, 2025 may get money. Eligible customers can receive between $100 and $250, depending on their claim details. Only customers from 13 states qualify, including Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and others. People must have had automatically renewing written contracts with the company to be eligible.

Price increase rules for customers

Price increases in the contracts could be for transport, disposal costs, or inflation (CPI) changes. Customers qualify only if their total price hikes were more than 6% plus CPI increase allowed in contracts. Many eligible customers likely already received a settlement notice by mail or email. The time period for price increases differs by state, with some starting in 2017 and others later.


People cannot apply if they did not sign a written contract or if their contract already expired. Customers who signed contracts after April 4, 2021 or changed contract terms also cannot claim money. Some customers are also ineligible if they already got refunds or credits that covered the extra charges.

How much money you can get

A class action settlement means a group of people sued together because they had the same complaint against a company. In such cases, companies often settle to save time, legal costs, and avoid long trials. Eligible customers will get $100 if they only submit their account number. Customers who provide contracts and proof of price increase can get between $200 and $250.

The final payment amount depends on how many people file valid claims. People can submit claims online or by mail to the settlement administrator. The deadline to opt out of the settlement is March 17. The last date to file a claim is April 30. Payments will be sent about 135 days after final court approval, expected on March 31, 2026.

FAQs

Q1. Who can get money from the BFI Waste Services settlement?

People who had written trash service contracts with BFI and paid extra price increases between 2017 and 2025 in certain US states can qualify.

Q2. How much money can customers receive in this settlement?

Eligible customers can get between $100 and $250, depending on the proof and details they submit.