City Ahead of Recycling, Waste Goals

A report submitted to the City Council indicates that Rancho Palos Verdes is ahead of the game in meeting state-mandated recycling and trash reduction requirements.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council held a public hearing on a preliminary draft of the city’s plan to reduce the amount of solid waste it deposits in landfills by 25% by 1995 and 50% by the year 2000.

According to the 350-page report, which was prepared by a consulting firm that specializes in waste-reduction strategy, the city currently diverts 44.7% of its 60,576 annual tons of solid waste from landfills. That’s far above the 25% reduction required by 1995 but still short of the 50% goal for 2000.

The report, which will be the subject of another public hearing before it is submitted to county officials this summer, projected a cost of more than $200,000 for key recycling and waste-reduction programs. These costs would be funded through increases in user fees for both residents and businesses, the report said.