El Sereno resident Scott Toland is another unhappy customer of L.A.鈥檚 new refuse and recycling program.
Toland recently learned that the monthly trash bill at the 10-unit condominium complex where he lives could double 鈥� at a minimum. And that鈥檚 only if his homeowner association cuts back on regular trash pickup.
The reason? An assortment of extra fees, all backed by Mayor聽Eric Garcetti and the City Council as part of RecycLA.
Universal Waste Systems, the neighborhood鈥檚 designated refuse hauler, sent Toland an estimate indicating the company would charge $43.30 a month to open the gate to the complex, which requires a remote control clicker, for the property鈥檚 regular trash.
The company added the same $43.30 鈥渁ccess charge鈥� for recycling pickup. And it tacked on $303 in monthly 鈥渄istance charges,鈥� which compensate a hauler for moving trash bins across the parking lot to the street, where they are emptied.
鈥淣o other trash company has ever charged us to open the gate or drive down the driveway, ever. So I think that鈥檚 outrageous,鈥� said Toland, who recently created a聽video聽highlighting the extra fees.
Businesses, landlords and condominium owners are voicing alarm over the additional charges being imposed under RecycLA, an environmental initiative championed by Garcetti that is aimed at diverting trash from landfills, putting cleaner-burning trash trucks on the street and creating safer conditions for refuse workers.
The price of the new program is based on the frequency of pickup, the number of refuse bins and the size of those containers. But companies are also allowed to charge extra to open a locked gate with a keypad or to move trash bins more than 100 feet or 200 feet.
A Garcetti aide defended the pricing arrangement, saying it provides more transparency and accountability on the recycling and trash collection offered citywide.
鈥淩ecycLA gives Angelenos the opportunity to pay only for the services they want, instead of being charged a single rate that doesn鈥檛 always take into account their individual needs,鈥� said mayoral spokesman George Kivork.
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