The Altadena town council told the county to go ahead and pursue an exclusive trash collection contract, ending the semi-exclusive arrangement now in operation.
What this means is, starting next fall, a single trash collection provider will service most Altadena homes, ending the semi-exclusive arrangement between Allied and Athens that now exists. According to the county, whoever wins the contract will be expected to provide services such as e-waste collection, periodic bulk trash collection, and discounts for seniors and the disabled.
Most residents will have their existing trash cans replaced by five 96-gallon rolling containers -- one for trash, two for green waste, and two for recycling. More containers will incur an extra $5 per month charge. The containers can be automatically picked up and emptied by newer model trash trucks. Smaller containers will also be offered for smaller households.
Grace Andrus, mayor of the Crescenta Valley town council, told the Altadena council that her community had been operating on an exclusive contract for three years with Allied Waste. Previously, she said, the town council and the county had no control over the multiple trash carriers, and received lots of complaints. Now, the council -- and the county -- can hold a provider accountable, and as a result, complaints have dropped, she said.
Individual homes can opt out of the contract, but only if they can prove that they are hauling out trash themselves or are recycling 100 percent of their refuse. Households that use dumpsters can continue to contract with whoever they wish.
Councilmembers said that they received numerous comments from their constituents about the trash service, most agreeing with an exclusive franchise.
One bone of contention was the recommended rate for scooter service -- a "scooter" being a smaller truck that collects trash in neighborhoods with winding, narrow roads, such as Chaney Trail. Households that used a scooter service would pay 50% more per month than the standard rate, which caused concern to some council members.
Virginia Maloles of the Los Angeles County Public Works Dept. said that it would probably take four months to solicit and review bids, and another six months to start the franchise.
The Altadena franchise area as drawn up by the county also includes Kinneloa Mesa, a private community of 38 homes southeast of Altadena.
