Bernardi Asks for Cost Study on Disposal Costs at Dumps

Saying the people of Los Angeles have been misled into believing that Lopez Canyon Landfill offers the only solution to the city’s trash crisis, Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi called Tuesday for an in-depth study of disposal costs at past, current and future dumps.

“Lopez Canyon Landfill is not the only option available to the city in its development of an adequate solid waste disposal program, and should be considered only as one of many dominoes,” Bernardi said in a motion calling for the study.

The motion was referred by the Council to the newly formed Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee.

Bernardi said the study should compare costs of closing Lopez Canyon Landfill--which now accepts three-fourths of the city’s residential trash--to costs associated with not using other canyons purchased for landfills, such as Mission, Rustic and Sullivan canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains. He said costs of opening a proposed new dump in Elsmere Canyon also should be evaluated.

The city Bureau of Sanitation has estimated that it would have to spend at least $26 million a year in dumping fees to divert trash from Lopez Canyon to other public and private landfills.

In a separate action, Bernardi agreed to postpone for a week a motion he and Councilman Joel Wachs had initiated that would extend by 60 days the review period for expansion of Lopez Canyon Landfill. City Atty. James Hahn said his staff needs more time to investigate the legality of altering the standard environmental review process, which is scheduled to end with a council hearing later this month.