Garbage rates will rise for Greenville residents and businesses beginning Nov. 1.

The Greenville City Council voted on Monday to raise the rate for solid waste disposal from $12 to $14 for customers with a 90-gallon can. The rate for customers with a 30-gallon can will increase from $7 to $9.

The increase is the first since 2003.

Mayor Dexter McLendon said the city had no choice but to raise the rate due to the rising cost of collecting and disposing of the garbage.

“It’s not something we wanted to do, but it’s something we had to do,” McLendon said.

“Our cost (for garbage disposal) has increased close to 50 percent. This rate is a 15 percent increase for citizens. This increase isn’t going to make up the difference, but we didn’t feel like we should increase it more than the $2.”

Solid waste service includes trash removal as well as the removal of leaves and tree limbs placed at the curb.