Camarillo : City May Extend Trash Pickup Pact

The Camarillo City Council on Wednesday considered approving a Ventura trash hauler as the only company authorized to haul rubbish from local businesses, sparking protests that the city should allow other firms to bid for the job.

The council was expected to vote late Wednesday whether to award a five-year contract to E. J. Harrison & Sons to pick up refuse at offices and commercial sites around the city.

Harrison already has a contract to haul trash from Camarillo businesses through 1994.

The proposed agreement would extend the terms of the contract for another 3 1/2 years.

The agreement would also makes Harrison the exclusive trash hauler for commercial establishments, which means no other garbage collector can bid for the business of Harrison’s customers during the term of the contract.

Director of Community Services John Elwell said that by working exclusively with one trash collector, the city would be better able to meet state requirements for reducing trash hauled to landfills.

“We can manage and know what he’s hauling, where he’s hauling it,” Elwell said.

Councilman Ken Gose said he opposed the new agreement with Harrison.

Gose said before the meeting that Harrison does a good job. But, he said, the city should wait until the existing contract expires and then give other garbage collectors a chance to bid for the job.

Harrison already holds exclusive contracts to haul trash and gather recyclable materials from the city’s residential areas.