Money in the trash

Re “L.A. battles trash haulers on bills,” Dec. 26

I live in a small, 16-unit townhouse complex. Prior to Los Angeles’ RecycLA project being forced upon us by City Hall, we had trash pickups four days a week from an independent hauler for $187 per month.

Our initial contract with our new franchise owner was for $722 per month for the same four days a week. We instead opted to spend $4,000 to enlarge our trash containment area, which allowed us to put in a blue recycle bin and reduce our pickups to two days a week for the charge of $406 per month. This meant we would owe “only” 117% more than we had been paying.

Problem is, our new waste hauler has missed virtually all of the scheduled recycle bin pickups. One time, the workers emptied the recycle bin into the regular trash truck.

For all of this, I must thank Mayor Eric Garcetti and others in City Hall. Los Angeles sure could use more of this “we’re from the government, and we’re here to help.” Jim Toomey Reseda

Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times PROPERTY manager Avi Sinai says his trash hauler has missed pickups in Panorama City.