Proposed trash rates revealed: base is $18.06/month

Altadena residents can expect to pay a base rate of $18.06 to Athens Services for trash collection, under the franchise contract now under consideration by the Board of Supervisors.

According to a quick survey of residents, that rate is very favorable compared to the present system of multiple trash haulers.

Altadena Town Council chair Gino Sund sent out an email tonight detailing the rates and Athens' proposed enhanced services, and was apparently peeved that he had to do it.

"It seems that someone can't wait a couple more weeks to learn the details or, they think that Town  Council is lying to you about the contract," Sund wrote. "Thus a Public Records Request was submitted to the Department of Public Works  to see the Athens proposal.  County Counsel has decided that the best course is to comply with the Public Records request.  Because of that request,  the information is now public and I want to share the actual facts with you."

In an interview, Sund told Altadenablog that revealing the fee and enhanced services before the contract was approved by the supervisors might cause a competing service to file a challenge to the contract approval and delay the projected July 1 start date.

"Hopefully, this chain of events will not result in difficulties in the selection of a contract which could delay the implementation of our new service," Sund said in his email.  "When you see the new rates you will realize that any delay in service will cost every household in Altadena money."

The basic proposed rates are:
Base Service, per month:                                 $18.06
Senior Discount, per month:                             $13.55
Difficult to access streets, per month:              $22.57
Backyard roll out/pick up service, per month:  $27.09

Athens also agreed to the following additional enhancements they would provide under the contract:   
1.  Increased the number of free bagged green waste pickup from 8 to 10 per year
2.  Increased the number of bulky item collections from 2 to 3 per year
3.  Free quarterly mulch giveaways
4.  Curbside used oil collection program
5.  Curbside battery recycling collection program