SIMI VALLEY : Dump May Be Urged Not to Import Trash

Hoping to reserve the Simi Valley dump for east county trash, the Simi Valley City Council tonight will consider whether to block a request by the landfill operator to close the dump on Sundays until the dump agrees not to import trash.

The council will vote on whether to send a letter signed by Mayor Greg Stratton asking for the block to the planning division of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency. The agency has control over the dump’s use permit because it is outside the city of Simi Valley on unincorporated county land.

At Simi Valley’s request, the agency two years ago denied Waste Management of California the right to close on Sundays.

When Waste Management again asked for permission to close because of slow business, Simi Valley officials saw an opportunity to bargain for exclusive east county rights to the dump.

“We’re looking for every chance we can to get our point across,” said Councilman Bill Davis, who also serves on the Ventura County Waste Commission.

In recent months, Waste Management has sought trash from Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara counties.

Company officials, who could not be reached for comment late last week, have said they need more trash to turn a profit at the dump.

Davis said east county cities have offered to extend for 10 years the life of the dump, which is due to close in 2004.

“They might get a little less along the way, but they would have more time to fill it.”