Foothill residents saddled with higher trash rates

Residents of La Cañada Flintridge can choose the company that hauls their trash, but in doing so, they might be choosing higher prices.

Even with Athens Services and Allied Waste Services competing, and new hauler NASA soon to be offering its services as well, La Cañada residents are paying more than Altadena residents.

The Los Angeles County Public Works Department on Sept. 1 entered its new exclusive contract for service in unincorporated Altadena with Athens, which charges $54 a quarter for basic three-can service, compared to quarterly prices of $89.68 for Allied and $91.11 for Athens in La Cañada.

La Cañada’s contracts with Athens and Allied were renewed at the end of 2010 and expire in 2014.

Allied Services’ rate in La Crescenta, meanwhile, is within 20 cents of their rate in La Cañada. Susan Passantino of Allied said the two cities were similar in terms of the factors used to determine pricing. VALLEY SUN

Photo: Jose Salcido from Athens Services collects trash around the 1300 block of W. Green Lane in La Canada Flintridge early Tuesday morning, September 13, 2011. Credit: Raul Roa, Times Community News