Trash Pick-Up Program Ready, Residents Aren’t : Sanitation: A belated public hearing follows criticism of the rate increase for the garbage pickup plan. There have also been problems with trash bins.

Although a contract has been signed, trash bins have been delivered and a new automated trash pick-up program is about to begin, the South Gate City Council has set a public hearing to discuss garbage collection.

The council voted to set the hearing after residents complained that rates will go up 34% and that the new 100-gallon trash bins are too big and unwieldy.

At the regular council meeting May 12, residents will have a chance to state their complaints, and city staff and Western Waste Industries officials will explain the benefits of the new system.

Western Waste will begin automated trash collection in residential areas Monday under an exclusive franchise that also includes commercial and industrial hauling starting next year. Wheeled containers supplied by the company will be used, and recyclable materials will be picked up at the curb for the first time.

Basic monthly service rates will increase from $7.60 to $11.68, with reduced charges for low-income senior citizens. Western Waste receives $9.85, while the remainder is retained by the city.

City officials have praised the arrangement, pointing out that Western Waste will assume full responsibility--and liability--for state-mandated reductions in the amount of trash hauled to landfills. Under state law, trash going to landfills must be reduced 25% by 1995 and 50% by 2000. Cities that do not comply face fines of up to $10,000 a day, city officials said.

But at last week’s council session, several residents attacked the rate increase and said the new containers are unwieldy, especially for the elderly, and do not fit through some back-yard gates. A petition with 193 signatures opposing the changes in trash collection was presented to the council.

“I’m appalled the council could do this without putting it on the ballot,” said resident Carol Tisdale.

The controversial containers did get one endorsement, from longtime resident Martha Ballard, who said something is needed besides plastic bags that dogs tear open.

“I’m 74 and I can take care of one of those (bins),” she said.

On a motion by Councilman Larry Leonard, the council scheduled the hearing to “let the citizens express their concerns about the contract and the staff explain why the contract was approved.”

The motion also asked Western Waste to defer the rate increase for 30 days. However, Mark Bozajian, Western Waste executive vice president, said in an interview that this is unacceptable. “We should be paid for the service we are giving,” he said.

Bozajian said his company has spent more than $2 million for new trucks and equipment for the South Gate program, which he said “will represent a great improvement” over previous trash collection for between 17,000 and 19,000 homes.

Instead of putting out trash in cans, boxes or bags, he said, residents will roll out the receptacles, which will be emptied by an automated arm on the garbage truck. Recycled materials will be collected separately, and bulky items will be picked up by request.

He said customers who do not need 100-gallon receptacles may request 64-gallon containers after 90 days of service. However, senior citizens, people unable to handle the large bins and those who can demonstrate that they do not need the larger containers may ask for them sooner. The monthly rate for the 64-gallon receptacle is $9.78.

As the council voted to hold the trash hearing, it rejected a motion by newly elected Councilman Albert Robles asking Western Waste to stop distributing the receptacles that Robles contends are being forced on residents. During the campaign, Robles criticized the city for negotiating an exclusive trash franchise without calling for bids.

In an interview, Robles said the council should cancel the agreement and risk being sued by Western Waste. “We should listen to the public (on May 12), and then we should put a stop to all this that is going on and then place the process up for competitive bid,” he said. “There are companies out there that will provide the same service at a better fee.”

But Leonard said: “We have a bona fide contract. Breach-of-contract liability could be tremendous.”

Leonard said the city may want to renegotiate some aspects of the agreement after the hearing, but he and council members May Ann Buckles and Jerry M. Garcia said no substantive changes are needed.

The Gardena-based Western Waste has been South Gate’s exclusive residential hauler for 26 years.