Supervisors Levy $3.51 Fee on Property Owners

Los Angeles County supervisors have imposed a $3.51 fee on property owners in the county’s unincorporated areas to pay for a plan to meet statewide legislation aimed at reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills.

Officials from the Department of Public Works said the fee may be imposed on a one-time basis if the county’s program to reduce trash is successful. The department initially suggested a $7.63 charge to hire 18 people to carry out the program, but in the face of board opposition, pared it down to $3.51.

The county will use the money for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste, demonstrations of programs to advise residents how they can avoid discarding trash, development of curbside collection of recyclables and limited public education programs. The county, as well as other municipalities, is required by the state to significantly reduce landfill waste or face fines up to $10,000 a day beginning next July.