Approval of Trash Plant Appealed

A group of residents has filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval earlier this month of the Rail Cycle waste transfer station, a planned trash processing plant that has drawn opposition from some citizens.

The City Council is scheduled to hear the appeal when it discusses the controversial project Jan. 5.

The Rail Cycle project would build a waste transfer and recycling center, which would be run by Waste Management Inc., on land owned by the Santa Fe Railway. If approved by the council, tons of trash from throughout the Los Angeles Basin would be hauled into the city and processed at the plant. The waste would then be shipped out by rail to a private dump in San Bernardino County.

Several Commerce residents have opposed the project, fearful that it will increase truck traffic and air pollution. Rail Cycle officials have said that the trucks will enter and leave the city using only approved routes and that the traffic will not cause more pollution.

The Planning Commission approved the project earlier this month after Waste Management officials agreed to several last-minute conditions, including hiring 35% of its employees from Commerce and promising not to bid on city trash-hauling contracts.