PLACENTIA : Council Approves Disposal Fee Hike

The City Council has approved a 14.4% increase in residential disposal fees to offset a hike in the cost of dumping at county-operated landfills.

Council members voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to raise monthly rates $1.44 to $11.43, the second increase in disposal rates in a year. Last year, rates were increased to help pay for the city’s new recycling program.

On July 1, the fee Orange County charges on dumping at its landfills will rise from $17.75 a ton to $22.75 a ton.

Nine percent of the 14.4% increase will be applied to the new dumping fees, and the remaining 5.4% is meant to account for inflation, city officials said. The city’s contract with Placentia Disposal allows the company to hike fees yearly to offset inflation.

City officials said the rate hike would have been higher without the city’s recycling program. Because residents are separating recyclables from trash, less waste has to be sent to the county landfills. Residents are being credited 75 cents a month from the disposal company’s share of recycling income, city officials said.

In addition, commercial rates for businesses with a 3-yard container will rise 11.4% to $77.71. Rates for businesses with 3-yard compactors will rise 18.4% to $113.80.