The Beverly Hills City Council voted on Dec. 10 to extend the existing agreement as amended with its waste hauler Athens Services (“Athens”). The Council also voted to approve a new eight-year franchise agreement with Athens for commercial solid waste collection and residential solid waste processing. The agreement will take effect in 2022.
The agreements as initially proposed attracted opposition from community organizations, environmentalists, concerned citizens, and in particular, the union representing the Athens workers, Teamsters Local 396. Representatives of those groups voiced their opposition at previous Council meetings, among other venues. They returned on Dec. 10 to reiterate their concerns. Objections fell into three categories. Namely, the lack of a competitive bidding process; reduced environmental waste diversion requirements; and allegations that Athens has engaged in unfair practices toward its employees. The Council grappled with those three issues as well.
