Trash Truck Drivers May Be Told to Sell Recycling

Los Angeles trash truck drivers may soon be pounding the pavement in neighborhoods throughout the city, talking trash to increase recycling.

Under a proposal introduced Tuesday by City Councilman Marvin Braude, trash truck drivers would get cash incentives for persuading residents to recycle more, thus reducing the amount the city spends to dump refuse into area landfills.

But to do the job, Braude suggests that truck drivers spend some free time--even days off--walking door to door, educating people on the benefits of recycling.

“Everyone wins under my proposal,” said Braude, who heads the council’s waste management committee and represents parts of the west San Fernando Valley. “Drivers win because their take-home pay increases. The Bureau of Sanitation wins because it gets additional tools with which to do a better management job.”

The proposal is the latest effort to increase recycling in Los Angeles. The city currently recycles 33% of its trash. Most of the recyclable portion is yard trimmings; a smaller amount comes from aluminum cans, glass and newsprint.

In total, the city dumps about 3,500 tons of refuse per day, at a cost of about $35 per ton. But the city earns about $35 for every ton of recyclables that are collected and sold to recycling firms.

Under Braude’s plan, the truck drivers would get to keep half of the savings they make for the city by reducing the amount of trash that ends up in area dumps.

The 7,000 city trash truck drivers--who earn up to $40,000 per year--would get to split the bonuses evenly. Braude estimated that if drivers save the city 10% next year on landfill dump costs, that could amount to about $1,000 in bonuses for each driver.

Trash truck drivers like the sound of that.

David Trowbridge, general manager of the Service Employees International Union Local 347, which represents trash workers, said the idea has a lot of merit.

“In general, we like the concept,” he said. “We feel very comfortable in going forward and reaching out to the public.”

Trowbridge said the drivers would be willing to invest some of their free time to promote recycling. He suggested truck drivers might talk to children at elementary schools about recycling.

“Whatever we can do to get citizens on board and recycle more, it’s better for the environment and it saves the city money,” he said.

Delwin A. Biagi, head of the city’s sanitation department, applauded Braude’s idea, saying his workers are looking forward to earning the bonuses.

“We hope this will be very worthwhile for them,” he said.

Braude instructed sanitation officials to return to his committee in 90 days with a report on ways to implement the program. Barring any hitches, Braude said, the incentive program can begin in four or five months.