The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 108, No. 3 - January 17, 2019
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............2
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................10
Classifieds............................9
Community Briefs...............3
Crossword/Sudoku.............9
Entertainment....................11
Legals............................ 10,11
Memorial..............................2
Real Estate.......................5-8
Sports....................................4
Weekend
Forecast
El Segundo Girls Water Polo Win
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
63˚/51˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
70˚/52˚
Sunday
Cloudy
69˚/52˚
The Lady Eagles pose with their championship plaque after winning the 5th Annual Lady Brahmas Winter Classic Tournament. For story see Eagles page 8. Photo by: Lisa Caravello.
City Council Chooses EDCO and
Automated Service for Trash Deal
By Brian Simon
On Tuesday night, the El Segundo City
Council voted 3-1 to enter into exclusive
negotiations with EDCO for the next residential
solid waste collection contract and to
go to automated services for the first time.
Councilmember Don Brann was the lone
dissenting vote, while Mayor Drew Boyles
recused himself because he owns businesses
in a similar industry. The move spells the end
of longtime hauler Republic Services’ reign as
the community’s residential hauler.
In justifying staff’s recommendation to
select EDCO, Public Works Director Ken
Berkman (with assistance from Solid Waste
Program Manager Michelle Leonard from
SCS Engineers) provided a lengthy presentation
detailing background/history, the RFP
(request for proposal) process, state compliance
challenges and EDCO’s perceived advantages
over other bidders.
El Segundo is the only city in Los Angeles
County that still uses unlimited curbside
manual collection for solid waste. An agency
audit of El Segundo’s current process showed
non-compliance in several areas including
the lack of a green waste program and poor
diversion statistics on the residential side. An
upcoming Senate bill (SB1383) when passed
would require organic waste recycling starting
in 2022, with hefty fines (up to $10,000)
potentially imposed on cities and residents who
don’t comply. The bill’s objective is to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Leonard explained
that manual containers won’t comply with
SB1383, a point also opined by City Attorney
Mark Hensley – who urged the Council to
include a six-month termination provision if
the group had opted to stay with manual collection
so as to minimize penalties.
The RFP resulted in bids from four proposers,
with the top three ranked (EDCO, Waste
Management and Republic Services) continuing
on to the interview phase. A review panel gave
EDCO the highest score based on a series of
33 questions. The company also provided the
lowest bid for automated services (Republic
had the lowest for manual). By moving to
automated versus manual, the City will save
about $1.35 million over the course of the
proposed seven-year contract.
In justifying the EDCO choice, Berkman
pointed to the program’s compliance with
CalRecycle (which manages state solid waste
regulations), transition experience, combined
owner/city billing experience, four-day per week
service (as opposed to five), near-zero emission
gas trucks, customer service amenities, lowest
cost, and great references. To prepare for said
transition, EDCO plans to send a direct mailer
to residents and develop a website specific to
El Segundo. Additional outreach will include
public workshops, community events and
quarterly newsletters, among other items. The
new carts will also be on display at various
City buildings.
In addition to compliance challenges, other
mentioned issues with manual collection included
storm water pollution and susceptibility
to animal/vector attraction. Berkman said that
going to automated will be safer, more effective
and efficient with fewer insurance claims since
drivers don’t leave their vehicles. It will also
reduce the waste stream. Berkman added that
concerns about El Segundo’s narrow streets
and alleys won’t present a new problem since
the automated trucks are the same size as the
manual ones.
While a previous survey showed very high
ratings for Republic and a preference to stay
with the manual service, a few public speakers
in attendance Tuesday from the City’s
Environmental Committee felt the results were
invalid and unscientific because respondents
did not have adequate information at the time
about cost savings and compliance issues.
Committee Chair Tracey Miller-Zarneke
spoke of the need to accept inevitable change
and to not hinder the City by maintaining a
“we’ve always done it that way approach
based on nostalgia and fear of change and
denial of reality.”
Republic Services’ General Manager Ray
Grothaus thanked the community for its
“outpouring of support,” but said, “It’s obvious
the deck is being stacked for EDCO and
automated.” In his comments, he questioned
the so-called “differentiators” that staff felt
separated EDCO and indicated that Republic
could achieve the same objectives. One example,
he noted, was his company could still satisfy
mandatory bin color requirements even if the
system remains manual. He also reminded the
Council that Republic’s drivers knows “every
nook and cranny in the city.” EDCO CEO Steve
South also spoke to the Council, commending
staff on the selection process and feeling his
See City Council, page 9