Events in the news this week.

To discourage illegal dumping of household hazardous wastes, county health officials are proposing the creation of two special collection stations at existing landfills, and working with four private stations elsewhere in the county to handle such toxic materials. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday morning.

Operating the pilot program would cost about $1.2 million a year. To pay for it, county officials have proposed a 25-cent-a-ton surcharge on trash deposited at county landfills.

The proposal is part of a series of changes in landfill fees recommended by county health and waste management experts. Under the plan, the basic landfill rate on July 1 would jump from the current fee of $11 per ton to $13.75 per ton, which includes the surcharge. Fees for individual trucks using the landfills would increase from $4 to $5 a load, but the rate for individual cars would remain at $3 per load.

The special collection stations for household hazardous wastes would be created at existing landfills in Brea and San Juan Capistrano. The county would also work with private facilities in Anaheim, Stanton, Huntington Beach and Irvine. At each of these stations, county residents would be able to dispose safely of old paints, solvents, motor oil, household cleaning solutions and pesticides.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors is expected to award a lucrative contract to one of three hamburger chains seeking to open a franchise in the new terminal at John Wayne Airport. The three hamburger chains under consideration are Burger King, McDonald’s and Carl’s Jr. The winner gets restaurants at both ends of the terminal, scheduled to open in a year. The burger stands are expected to bring in about $1.6 million a year, with the county taking about a $200,000 share.

A state mediator is scheduled to meet Friday with both sides in a contract dispute between teachers and Anaheim Union High School District. About 20 teachers walked an informational picket line March 13. At the crux of the dispute is an impasse over union-requested language on teacher salaries. The teachers’ contract expired last summer, and the most recent talks broke off Jan. 23.