Photo Cathy Tyson

Because she was concerned about the cost of an additional recycling cart, Traci Reilly started digging. While rates for trash pick-up differ across Lamorinda - the cost of having additional recycling and yard waste bins is standard. It seemed unusual and counterproductive to Reilly that adding a second recycling bin for bottles, cans and newspaper cost roughly twice as much as getting an additional yard waste bin - $10.09 compared to $5.67.

After looking into it Bart Carr, Senior Program Manager with Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, changed the fee for an extra cart from $10.09 per month to $5.67. The change is slated to start during the April to June billing cycle.

"I'm thrilled. Waste Management and Allied Waste have agreed to lower the price for additional recycling carts and our City Council members who sit on the Board have signed off on it. I was impressed with the speed at which this all occurred," said Reilly. "Hopefully this will encourage more recycling without being financially penalized."

Trash fees are based upon the size of resident's blue garbage carts - the smaller the cart, the smaller the bill. However residents in some municipalities pay more than others. The waste fee for a 64 gallon cart in Orinda is $60.78 while in Moraga it's $47.20, and $49.95 in Lafayette. In nearby Walnut Creek it only costs $35.59 for the same service. Factors that go into rate calculations include labor, fuel equipment and more. Regular massive garbage trucks just can't fit on Orinda's narrow, windy roads - so a smaller more nimble truck is used - necessitating more trips to the landfill.