After over a year of meetings and negotiations the Hermosa Beach City Council finally approved the agreement with Athens Services to adopt an eight-year contract beginning in July for a new pay-as-you-throw trash system.
Under the new “cart” system, residents would be charged by the size of the container they use for debris. Currently, residents pay a flat $11.57 fee for unlimited trash collection with Consolidated Disposal Service. Beginning as soon as July, residents would have the option of using a 35-gallon cart for $6.69, a 64-gallon cart for $10.69 or a 95-gallon cart for $14.62. According to the contract, residents will have an optional six free overage collections a year in addition to two weeks at the holidays as well as two free bulky item pick-ups. Since recycling is free, the new program incentivizes careful recycling and guarantees a 50 percent diversion from landfills, more than the current rate of 26 percent.
Athens will maintain an office within the city and informational how-to packets will be provided to each customer. Community workshops for additional information will begin in May. ER
