Arcadia : Waste Contract Extended

The City Council last week backed out of a plan for three central San Gabriel Valley cities to hire one waste hauler by voting to extend the contract of Arcadia’s existing hauler.

“Arcadia will not be negotiating together with Sierra Madre and Monrovia,” said Tammy Gates, an administrator who handles garbage issues for the city.

For the last several months, the cities of Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia and Duarte had considered hiring one trash collector and recycler to serve all four cities.

Earlier this summer, Monrovia and Sierra Madre councils committed to the one hauler idea, but Duarte pulled out.

Arcadia council members Tuesday voted 3 to 2 to renew the contract of Newco Waste Systems in February, 1994, for an additional two years.

Councilmen George Fasching, Robert C. Harbicht and Bob Margett voted for the extension, while Mayor Joseph C. Ciraulo and Councilman Dennis C. Lojeski opposed it.

“I am disappointed the cities couldn’t work together,” said Sean Joyce, Sierra Madre interim city administrator. He said Sierra Madre would reconsider whether to put its garbage collection out to bid.