Brea Residents Will Be Able to Recycle ‘Green’ Waste

Beginning this fall, residents will be able to recycle “green” waste such as leaves, lawn clippings and tree branches along with their newspapers and cans.

The City Council has approved the plan, which will raise trash collection rates by about 39 cents a month for each residence. However, the rates will drop by nearly $6 a month for businesses.

The city was able to lower the business rates and to raise residential rates only slightly because of a drop in county landfill charges from $35 to $27 a ton, said Finance Director Lawrence D. Hurst.

By state law, Brea is required to reduce the amount of trash it takes to landfills by the year 2000. By recycling glass, plastic and paper, the city has reduced its trash by 27% but needs to reach 50% reduction in about three years, Hurst said.

Officials said the green waste program is expected to accomplish that goal.

The new program, operated by Brea Disposal Inc., begins in October. In late September, residents will receive 110-gallon containers for yard waste, which will be collected and sold to recycling companies.

Under the plan, monthly residential bills will increase from $13.42 to $13.81, and the rate for businesses will decrease by $5.91, from $102.32 to $96.41.

Several Orange County cities have approved similar programs to meet the state’s recycling mandate, including Placentia, Yorba Linda, Villa Park and Garden Grove.