Fee on Trash Exporters to Be Studied

Northeast San Fernando Valley City Councilman Howard Finn won council approval Wednesday for a study of his proposal to impose a fee on residents who send their trash to other neighborhoods.

Finn said the “not-in-my-backyard fee,” as he called it, would compensate areas that serve as dumping grounds for the city’s trash. Under his proposal, homeowners near landfills would be exempt from paying the unspecified fee.

“We not only pay the money. We get the trash,” said Finn, whose district includes most of Los Angeles’ garbage dumps.

Although council members Wednesday unanimously authorized its staff to study the issue, they have previously been reluctant to impose garbage or other politically sensitive fees.

Finn said his proposal would provide an incentive for neighborhoods to accept badly needed waste-disposal facilities.

“The proposal is also intended to allow those communities that do not want these facilities in their area to help equalize the burden” of odors and noise to residents close to landfills, Finn said.

Finn also said he thinks it is unfair for his constituents to help pay the estimated $35 million a year to transport garbage from West Los Angeles to his district for disposal.