$22 MILLION EXTRA COST TO HAUL TRASH OUT OF CITY.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Fulfilling Mayor James Hahn's vow to haul residential garbage somewhere outside city limits will cost about $22 million more a year than dumping it in Sunshine Canyon Landfill, a report released Friday says.

According to the analysis from the Bureau of Sanitation, which is reviewing bids for the city contract, the cheapest alternative for hauling the city's trash could be about $57.8 million a year. That is the cost included in a 15-year contract proposed by Waste Management Inc., the nation's largest garbage company, which would truck trash to dumps in the Antelope Valley and Riverside County.

City officials estimate it would cost about $35 million annually over the next 15 years to continue dumping in Sunshine Canyon in Granada Hills.

Despite the cost difference, Hahn's office Friday reiterated its pledge to stop using urban landfills because of community complaints about truck traffic and pollution.

``Our position hasn't changed. It's still out of Sunshine Canyon in 2006 and we've always been cognizant of the fact that there could be a higher price getting out of Sunshine Canyon,'' said Hahn spokeswoman Sahar Moridani.

The trash contract will be discussed Wednesday at the Board of Public Works, which will make a recommendation to the City Council and mayor.

Both Hahn and mayoral challenger Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa have promised Granada Hills residents that they would not renew the city's contract with Browning Ferris Industries, which owns the massive Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

BFI managers were unavailable for comment on the sanitation report late Friday, but have urged the city to renew the Sunshine Canyon Landfill as the cheapest choice.

The city's Bureau of Sanitation collects roughly 3,600 tons of trash daily from single-family homes and small apartment complexes, and dumps it in Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

Waste Management officials said the city should consider breaking up the trash contract and using different landfill companies for different regions of the city, as the sanitation department currently does for green waste and recycling processing.

``You realize greater savings by handling different wastesheds in different ways,'' said Kit Cole, director of community relations for Waste Management. ``We think there is a lot of value in diversifying who's providing landfill service in the city.''

Waste Management is trying to build a transfer station at its Bradley Landfill in Sun Valley. Though the project has met community opposition, the company said it's moving forward. The transfer station would lower the city's disposal cost to $46 million per year.

Private haulers serve businesses and large apartments and use several landfills throughout the region. They would continue to use Sunshine Canyon Landfill if the city ends its contract with BFI.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com