> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Taking out trash could be costly for Santa Monica - URL: https://www.smdp.com/taking-out-trash-could-be-costly-for-santa-monica/ - Published: 2002-12-30T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T01:12:42.000Z - Author: Andrew Fixmer - Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import *City weighs pros and cons of dumping its trash operations* Santa Monica officials realize that taking out the trash is becoming a bigger chore than they thought. And it could get even bigger if the city decides to expand its operations by handling garbage disposal for Beverly Hills and Culver City as well. Collecting the city’s garbage and bringing it to landfills has developed into a multi-million dollar business for Santa Monica. City officials are thinking about building a new garbage transfer station and expanding its operation for an estimated $6 million. But the move could squeeze out Southern California Disposal, a locally-owned family business. The city has owned and operated its own garbage transfer station in the city yards since the 1940s, where locally-collected refuse is recycled and transferred to tractor trailers, which haul the waste to landfills. Some officials want to expand the city’s operation to meet new recycling goals and abide by state and federal guidelines. The transfer station’s current permit expires in October 2003\. To get another permit from the state, the city’s transfer station must meet basic requirements, officials say. “Our current facility does not meet today’s regulatory standards,” said Craig Perkins, director of the city’s Environmental and Public Works Department. “A new transfer station must be designed to take into account regulatory, operational, environmental and long-term industry demands.” > “Our current facility does not meet today’s regulatory standards.” — — CRAIG PERKINS Environmental and Public Works Department, director However, some suggest the city should contract for the same services with Southern California Disposal, which is located near the city yards. The neighboring facility already meets all state and federal guidelines. By building the new transfer station, the city would be duplicating the same facility operated by Southern California Disposal. The move could also hurt the private company’s business because the city could dominate the market. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but this is a backbreaking, dirty and dangerous work,” said Paul Ryan, a consultant for Southern California Disposal. “I think they have earned the right to continue making a living.” It’s not clear if the city would lose or gain by contracting with the private garbage hauler. But if it did, it could give Southern California Disposal a quasi monopoly on garbage collection on Los Angeles’ westside. That could lead to higher trash collection fees for the public and Santa Monica because there would be a lack of competition, city officials said. Officials also predict 10 city employees would be laid off if Santa Monica left the trash collection business. “It’s not in the public’s best long-term interest for the city to contract with SCD,” Craig Perkins said. Southern California Disposal officials disagree. They predict the city will save itself not only the construction of a new facility but operating and maintaining the old facility. The city also could use the land currently occupied by the trash transfer station for something else, Southern California Disposal officials said. “We can save the taxpayers money,” Ryan said. “These guys live in Santa Monica, too, and they don’t want to see anyone get a bad deal.” City officials accuse Southern California Disposal of cooking its books to make it seem like the city would save more by contracting with them. But Southern California Disposal officials accuse the city of inventing numbers to make building the new transfer station more palatable. To break even on its new trash transfer facility, the city would have to increase the amount of garbage flowing through its facility by nearly 33 percent, according to a staff report. The city transfers about 110,000 tons of garbage annually. If the new transfer station is built, city officials estimate they will see about 154,000 tons a year. “We haven’t seen where these numbers are coming from,” said Councilman Ken Genser. “There’s nothing telling us these are numbers derived from analysis rather than speculation.” When asked where the new garbage would come from, Perkins said his department would go to Beverly Hills and Culver City to lock down contracts with them. Also, the city could franchise garbage collection in Santa Monica so all trash pick-up agencies would have to use the city’s facility, according to a staff report. To some city officials, the issue raises questions over what role Santa Monica wants to play in the regional garbage industry. “Do we really want to attract more garbage and more trucks into Santa Monica?” said Councilman Bob Holbrook. “Do we really want to be the regional garbage facility for the Los Angeles region? I would say no.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 30, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/123002.pdf?ref=smdp.com)