MISSION VIEJO : Commercial Trash Pickup Hike OKd

A waste disposal rate increase ranging from 11.4% to 14% for commercial businesses has been approved by the City Council.

The amount of the increase will hinge on the number of garbage pickups a firm has during the week. Higher rates will be assessed according to frequency of pickup, city officials said Monday. Businesses typically get trash service one to six times per week.

The city had disputed the amount of the rate increase with Waste Management of Orange County, which owns Dewey’s Rubbish of Irvine. They compromised between 6% and 20% requested by the trash collection company.

Council members said the rate increase was better than going to court to resolve the disagreement.

Commercial rates paid by Mission Viejo businesses had ranked among the lowest in the county. A store with one pickup per week paid $59, with six trash pickups per week running $186.