Los Angeles committee advances 'Recicla 2' franchise recommendations as members press staff on customer costs

A Los Angeles City Council sanitation committee voted to advance recommendations from department staff to transition the city's commercial franchise recycling and waste program to a new "Recicla 2" model, while members pressed officials for clearer estimates of consumer cost impacts and the timeline for a new request for proposals (RFP).

Paul Clovian, who introduced himself during the presentation as serving in the franchises division of the city's sanitation department, told the committee the existing Recicla contract began in 2017, covers 11 franchise zones and expires in 2027. He said staff and a consultant team completed a cost analysis and are pursuing ordinance changes, a dedicated administrative fund and updated minimum service requirements to support the program transition. "We do not have a number, I cannot give you the number," Clovian told the panel when asked for a specific customer-rate estimate.

Committee members who questioned staff said previous negotiation efforts with incumbent haulers had not produced terms that met the…