Your Government » Public Works » Trash Services

Athens Trash Services Overview

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -
2024 Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Rate Schedule 

Pursuant to the City’s current contract with Athens Services, the company is allowed annual rate increases. Representatives from Athens Services notified the City of their formal request in May of 2024 to institute a Consumer Price Index (CPI) 3.90% plus 1.00% increase and an additional 3.00% for Residential and 7.00% for Commercial for solid waste services effective July 1, 2024. The actual dollar cost impact of the rate adjustment is projected to be as follows: 

  • For the typical residential customer enrolled in the 90-gallon trash / recycling barrel program, solid waste services will increase by $3.38 / month, from $42.80 / month to $46.18 / month.
  • For the typical commercial customer enrolled in the one 3-yard bin, which is serviced once per week, solid waste services will increase by $30.80 / month, from $258.92 / month to $289.72 / month. 

 

California Legislation 

As part of the exclusive franchise agreements, the City worked with Athens to develop updated service levels to comply with a variety of State regulatory requirements that were driven by AB 1826, AB 1594 and SB 1383 which requires that all municipalities develop an organic waste recycling program for residents, commercial businesses and multi-family dwellings with 5 or more units.

  • AB 1826 Overview

    AB 1826 was signed by Governor Brown in October 2014 and requires that by 2020, organic waste must be reduced by 50% of the level of disposal during 2014. Organic waste refers to food waste, green waste, landscape / pruning waste, wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste, and was developed based on the directives of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. That legislation identified that reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills and increasing the production of compost and mulch were important requirements, because organic waste in landfills served as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

  • AB 1594 Overview

    The State mandates that all cities divert 50% of their trash away from landfills. AB 1594, does not allow for green waste to be used for meeting mandated 50% diversion rate. The State requires that the City provide a report that outlines how the City meets 50% diversion rate.

  • SB 1383 Overview

    In September 2016, Governor Edmund Brown Jr. passed Senate Bill 1383, California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, setting methane emission reduction targets for California in a statewide initiative to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. 

    SB 1383 Targets:

    1. Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 75% by 2025.
    2. Recover at least 20% of currently disposed surplus edible food by 2025. 

     

    To comply with SB 1383, the City of Monrovia implemented an Organic Waste Recycling Program. All residents and businesses in the City can now recycle all organic waste in their current green bin.

     

Closed Loop Organics Recycling Program

Given the requirements of AB 1826, AB 1594 and SB 1383, the City worked with Athens to develop a closed loop organics recycling program. The program involves Athens taking all organic waste to their American Organics facility, where it is turned into compost and mulch.  Public Works will host two FREE Compost and Mulch Giveaway events each year for Monrovia residents.

Furthermore, given the high fire danger in the hillsides, the closed loop organics recycling program also involves a fire danger zone brush clearance program. Pursuant to the program, Athens annually provides brush clearance hauling services for the high fire zone areas of Monrovia (between May 1 – June 30 every year) at no additional cost. The green waste collected from the brush clearance program will be added to the closed loop organics recycling program to be converted into compost and mulch for Monrovia residents. This program has the added community-wide benefit of reducing fire risk in our foothill neighborhoods.

When taken together, the closed loop organics recycling program will not only help the City to remain in compliance with AB 1826, AB 1594 and SB 1383, but will also provide an environmentally responsible way of utilizing the organic material collected to produce compost and mulch that can be used by Monrovia residents.

 Supporting Documents & Links