City faces backlash over unfair trash service charges

During a recent city council meeting in Fullerton, concerns were raised regarding the city's trash and recycling service charges, particularly for multifamily residences. A speaker highlighted that Fullerton has approximately 15,000 multifamily residences, which represent one-third of the city's total housing stock, including townhomes, apartment complexes, and condominiums.

The speaker criticized the current billing structure, which charges multifamily units based on the single-family residence rate, regardless of the actual waste generated. This system, they argued, does not reflect the tonnage of waste produced and could lead to overcharging. They noted that if Republic Services, the waste management provider, were to charge based on actual service frequency, discounts would be applicable for multiple pickups per week.

The speaker estimated that the city collects around $5 million annually from these services, with a small administrative fee of 2-3% retained by the city before passing the majority of the revenue to Republic Services. They called for a reassessment of the contract with Republic Services, asserting that the current arrangement is inequitable and urging the city to seek reimbursement for residents.

In a separate segment of the meeting, Marilyn Harris, representing the American Veterans Memorial Association, expressed gratitude for the community's participation in the recent Memorial Day ceremony at Loma Vista Memorial Park, emphasizing the event's success and acknowledging attendees with certificates.