Council OKs Penalty for Excessive Trash

In a bid to encourage recycling, the Los Angeles City Council this week approved a plan to charge homeowners progressively larger fees when their weekly trash output tops 120 gallons.

Under the proposal, approved by a 10-3 vote, homeowners will get two 60-gallon containers and as many recycling bins as they want free. Owners of small apartment buildings will get a 90-gallon can for yard waste and a 60-gallon one for each dwelling unit.

If more waste is generated and extra containers are needed, the city will charge monthly rental fees that will be increased for the extra trash capacity.

Officials expect the new trash collection and recycling program to start up in limited areas this fall and spread citywide within the next three years.

A homeowner who needs to increase the size of one of the cans to 90 gallons will be charged $5.35 a month. Those who require a third container will be charged $8.60 a month for a 60-gallon container or $12.60 for a 90-gallon can.