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City Council OKs 'Zero Waste' Policy To Overhaul Trash Collection

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Angelenos could see some changes to the way trash is collected after the City Council voted Tuesday to start implementing a new way of handling trash pick-ups at businesses, apartments and condominiums.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports City Council members adopted the "Zero Waste" policy in a 12-1 vote as part of an effort to reduce pollution from trucks and help the city meet its goal of diverting 90 percent of its trash away from landfills by 2025.

City Council OKs 'Zero Waste' Policy To Overhaul Trash Collection

The controversial Zero Waste proposal "exclusive franchise system" divides the city into 11 "zones" and allows private companies to bid on the city contracts, which supporters say will stabilize customer rates, reduce street and air pollution impacts, and provide for improved customer service.

Only commercial industrial businesses and large multifamily customers would be impacted under the policy, according to the Zero Waste website. Single-family home residents would not be affected.

However, some local business leaders have opposed the plan over fears of higher rates and increased challenges to smaller trash haulers, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Councilmember Bernard Parks - who voted against the measure - and other critics say the move will reduce the number of trash collecting companies, cut competition and lead to higher rates.

"As we know with all of these things, the first price is always the best price," Parks said.

Once the move takes effect, Los Angeles will become the largest city in the nation to use exclusive franchises for trash collection, The Times reported.

The City Council voted in September 2012 to direct city staff to draft text for the policy. Since then, officials have held several public input meetings and issued a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).

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