San Clemente Approves Higher Trash Rates

To make way for a new curbside recycling program, the City Council approved higher trash rates last week that mean an average household will pay between $1.79 and $3.28 more per month.

The new trash rates, which were proposed and endorsed by the council in early September, will increase from $9.97 per month to $11.76 per month for residents using 35-gallon containers and from $9.97 to $13.25 for those using 60-gallon containers.

Residents will receive one container for non-recyclable trash and one for recyclable items such as glass, newspaper and cans, according to officials. Additional containers will carry extra fees.

Lower rates for using smaller containers are designed to encourage residents to reduce waste, said Michael Morgan, acting solid waste management coordinator.

The new program, which will be operated by Solag Disposal, responds to a state law requiring cities to sharply reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Hoping to keep rates from increasing even higher, San Clemente has joined the cities of Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel in running a coordinated recycling program, Morgan said. The program will begin April 12 in San Clemente.

In Dana Point, where the program started Jan. 4, officials have already been able to keep about 41% of the trash collected in the first four weeks from the landfill, a level much higher than expected, Morgan said.

San Clemente officials will be sending letters to residents in the coming days with more information about the program and how it will work.