City Puts Lid on Unlimited Overflow Trash Collection

NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES — The days of unlimited trash collection are coming to an end in most Northeast Los Angeles communities.

Starting Saturday, residents in areas served by automated collection will no longer be able to dispose of extra trash by putting their own containers at curbside beside those issued by the city.

Anyone whose trash will not fit into the two 60-gallon bins must call the city for a consultation with a trash supervisor who can issue more, said Sue Hayter, spokeswoman for the city’s Recycling and Waste Development Division.

In addition, the City Council is considering a proposed fee for residents who require more than the two bins, which are free.

The cutoff of manual trash pickup ends a grace period of several months after the introduction of automated collection into Atwater Village, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Highland Park, Silver Lake and Mt. Washington, Hayter said.

Under the automated collection program, which went into effect from April, 1991, to February, 1992, residents were supplied with the two bins designed to be picked up and emptied by a hydraulic arm on an automated truck. The driver never has to leave the truck. So far, one-third of the city, about 720,000 residences, has this type of collection, Hayter said.

During the grace period, the city continued to send old-style trucks to pick up overflow in ordinary trash cans. That service, which added to the cost of collection, ends Saturday.

Residents are encouraged to convert their old trash containers into composting bins or use them for storage of earthquake supplies, said Linda Aguilar, public relations specialist for the recycling division.

The city is also phasing in a curbside recycling program that will not be affected by the end of regular collection. Residents receive a 14-gallon recycling bin and can get additional ones without charge.

The proposed fee, if approved, would require residents to pay $5 per month for each 30-gallon increment for trash bins. It has not been determined how the fees would be collected and who, if anyone, would be exempt.

Residents who request extra containers must demonstrate they are doing everything possible to compact their trash and recycle. Those who meet the criteria will be given additional bins. Until the council decides whether to charge a fee, everyone who receives extra bins will be asked to sign an agreement acknowledging that there may be a fee in the future.

A year and a half ago, the council agreed in concept that residents should pay for additional bins, but no amount was discussed.