Longer Trash Truck Trips Raise Concerns

A proposal to dump Los Angeles’ trash in landfills outside the city drew expressions of concern from county officials and residents Wednesday about the possible environmental effects of longer truck trips.

Faced with the concerns, and a request by the city Sanitation Bureau for more time to review the idea, the Los Angeles Public Works Board decided to delay forwarding the proposal to the City Council.

Residents of Granada Hills have been asking the Sanitation Bureau to look at alternatives to dumping the city’s trash in the Sunshine Canyon Landfill, which is about to expand into the northern city limits of Los Angeles.

The bureau sought competitive proposals. In a report to the board, the bureau concluded that Los Angeles has two alternatives for dumping trash outside the city, but that the annual cost could be $10 million to $20 million more.

The alternatives were proposed by Waste Management Inc., which would send Los Angeles’ trash to its landfill in the Antelope Valley as the cheaper alternative, or split the waste between the Antelope Valley and the El Sobrante Landfill in Riverside County.

Susan Moulton, an executive with Waste Management, told the board her firm’s proposals could provide “viable and economic solutions to the city’s long-term” need.

But the proposals could require trucks to drive thousands of additional miles each year, said Greg Loughnane, district manager for Browning Ferris Industries, which operates Sunshine Canyon.

“It raises a number of potential concerns, including potential environmental impacts,” Carlos Ruiz of the county Department of Public Works told the board.

Opponents of Sunshine Canyon from Granada Hills also urged the board to consider more recycling and alternative technologies.

“We were upset that the two options that came back were landfill owners,” said Kim Thompson of the North Valley Coalition.

Councilman Greig Smith suggested that the board seek the best final offer from Waste Management to see if the plan could be less expensive than continuing to use Sunshine Canyon.

The board decided to delay sending the report to the City Council after Enrique Zaldivar, assistant director of the Sanitation Bureau, requested 45 days to talk to Waste Management about possible refinement of its plan and to determine whether the proposals meet standards for involving minority- and women-owned businesses.