FILLMORE : Trash Disposal Fee to Increase July 1

Monthly garbage bills for Fillmore residents will go up about $3.15 beginning July 1 to cover the cost of a curbside recycling program and increased dumping fees at the Toland Road landfill.

The “co-mingle” recycling system, which combines all recyclables in a single barrel, accounts for $1.60 of the fee increase. To cover rising fees at the Toland Road landfill, the council also increased monthly commercial and residential rates for non-recyclable refuse by 8.7% and 11.13% respectively.

Earlier this week, recycling barrels were distributed to the 2,100 households that have their garbage picked up.

Residents will use the containers for all glass, aluminum and plastic beverage containers and tin cans. Newspapers will be placed on top. James Harrison, a spokesman for Santa Clara Valley Disposal, the city’s refuse company, said the co-mingle system simplifies recycling and reduces scavenging of valuable materials.

City Manager Roy Payne said the curbside program is intended to supplement any recycling efforts citizens have begun on their own. “People who have been donating recyclables to youth organizations should continue to do so,” Payne said.

Initially, all profits from the program will be taken by Santa Clara Disposal, which has a contract with Fillmore for refuse services. “The city will still benefit, by reducing its waste, as required by law,” Payne said, referring to state legislation requiring a 25% reduction in trash destined for landfills by 1995.

Payne said that the agreement with the disposal company will be reviewed in six months. If the value of materials recovered by the program is high enough, the city may receive some share of the profits.