La Mesa Trash Pickup Fees to Rise for Residents and Business

Monthly trash pickup fees for La Mesa residents will rise to $19.09, an increase of 68 cents, and commercial customers will pay $99.29, up $1.97 a month, effective Aug 1.

The La Mesa City Council approved the EDCO rate hike by a 5-0 vote at the council meeting Tuesday. Councilmembers and public speakers were all in favor of the price increase and only had good things to say about EDCO services.

"La Mesa Citizens Oversight Group (LMCOG) supports the increase because [EDCO] is an organization that's invested in efficiencies, good service and reasonable prices," said Bill Jaynes, owner of All Things Bright and British and member of LMOG.

EDCO attributed the rise in fees to increased landfill costs, solid waste volume, cost of living increases, and changes in commodity prices for recyclables.

The City of La Mesa received 31 written protests against the rate increase, shy of the 6,095 protests needed to stop the rate increase, according to the city.

EDCO said the new rates were audited by an outside agency that gave them a green light. According to city staff, the residential and commercial rates are below the county average.