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# City Hall prepares new trash contract
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-hall-prepares-new-trash-contract/
- Published: 2007-10-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:44:14.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Downtown, #archive-import

*City Hall prepares new trash contract*

CITY HALL To the victor belong the spoils.

For the last two years, City Hall has been engaged in an extensive review of solid waste operations in an effort to be more efficient and save money while cutting back on the number of garbage trucks that travel through downtown, creating gridlock and pollution. Time to talk some trash Determining who will be responsible for processing recy-clables and collecting waste generated by local businesses over the next 15 years could be decided tonight, when the City Council reviews offers made by it’s own Solid Waste Management Division and some of the industry’s top garbage men.

Solid Waste, which currently collects all garbage and recy-clables deposited in residents’ blue and black bins, is considered the frontrunner for the business contract, offering the best combination of price and services, and providing City Hall with the greatest control over labor and operational issues — virtually guaranteeing non-interruption of service and the ability to change to meet sustainability goals, according to a report by a committee charged with evaluating the proposals.

Currently, Solid Waste competes with private companies for commercial collection. If the council decides to go with Solid Waste, the commercial market would be closed to outside haulers.

During that review, it became clear that the best way to determine the future course would be to hear from leaders in the industry and see what kinds of services they could offer, and at what costs.

City Hall made it clear that anyone providing services, including Solid Waste, would have to meet clearly articulated goals that included providing efficient and cost-effective service; maximizing recycling opportunities to ensure that 70 percent of waste generated does not end up in a land-fill; increasing aesthetics and cleanliness of dumpster docks; and reducing air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases.

Another significant factor is the construction of a new transfer station at either the City Yards off Michigan Avenue or at another site, something which City Hall is requiring of all who bid.

City Hall must do something with its present transfer station, which does not meet state standards because it is an open-air facility, exposing refuse to heat, water and wind.

Under Solid Waste’s proposal, a new, 82,000-square foot transfer station and processing facility would be built on the City Yards property at a cost of $5.6 million.

Fees charged to residents and business owners will vary, depending on which service options are selected. Future negotiations will determine the financial impact.

The evaluation committee was comprised of an assistant city manager, finance director, a member of the Bayside District Corp. and the city’s Environmental Task Force, the former director of Orange County Sanitation, and an independent solid waste consultant.

The goal was to create a committee that would be impartial and provide a fair analysis of each proposal. The committee was also diverse, including a representative from the business community, the city manager’s office, the environmental community and experts who have practical knowledge of the garbage industry, said Assistant City Manager Gordon Anderson, who led the committee.

There were complaints expressed early on in the process by some of the companies sub-mitting bids.They felt that while they would be able to compete with Solid Waste, they would not be given an equal opportunity because they were coming from the outside in.

Anderson dismissed those concerns, saying the committee was working independently of Solid Waste and was out to find the best deal possible for rate payers.

“Either people want to recognize this or they don’t,” Anderson said.

In addition to choosing one company to handle commercial collection and transfer and disposal, the council could elect to go with Solid Waste for the majority of the work and continue to contract with Allan Co. for recycling. Allan runs the Santa Monica Recycling Center, which is located at the City Yards.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 30, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/103007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)