New setback for former Thousand Oaks trash hauler Waste Mangement in war with rival Athens

In the latest setback for trash hauler Waste Management in its campaign against rival Athens Services, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission this week ruled that Athens' proposed new truck dispatch center can move forward.

Waste Management, one of two companies replaced last year by Athens as the city's waste collector, appealed to the commission a March 24 decision by a city administrative officer green-lighting the facility.

Athens plans to build a 21,440-square-foot trash truck dispatch center, including outdoor vehicle storage, maintenance facilities and a compressed natural gas fueling station. It will be located on an undeveloped lot at 2498 and 2550 Conejo Center Drive in an industrial part of Thousand Oaks.

Athens wants the local dispatch center so that its trucks won't have to continue using its current dispatch center in Sun Valley 35 miles away.

Waste Management argued in its appeal that before the city made a decision on the project, an environmental impact report should have been prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act.

But a nearly 300-page city staff report states that the project is exempt from provisions of CEQA in part because it is less than 5 acres in size, has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species, has existing street access and is served by all required utilities and public services.

The five-member Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday night to deny the appeal, finding Waste Management's arguments unpersuasive.

“The arguments, in my mind, that were made against that decision were not compelling and were not evidence-backed," said Commission Chair David Newman.

Commissioner Nelson Buss agreed.

“I don't understand why Waste Management is appealing this," he said. "I think that a significant amount of time by this body was spent, by our staff, by the Athens team ... and I find it very frustrating that we have to be here tonight."

Also voting to deny the appeal were commissioners Don Lanson, Justin Link and Sharon McMahon.

On the offensive

Houston-based Waste Management has been on the attack against Athens ever since March 2021 when the Thousand Oaks City Council chose Athens to replace it and E.J. Harrison & Sons as the city's waste hauler beginning Jan. 1. In so doing, the council cited the lower rates offered by Athens, headquartered in the City of Industry. Waste Management and Harrison had been the city's waste collectors since 1998.

Thousand Oaks' agreement with Athens is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Waste Management.

Waste Management has sued Athens and the city over the deal and has sent mass mailers to the city's residents disparaging Athens. Thousand Oaks officials say the flyers are inaccurate and misleading.

More recently, Waste Management accused Athens of trying to underreport the amount of waste it delivered in January to the Simi Valley landfill, which Waste Management owns. Athens denies the allegations.

A judge in December refused to rescind the contract between Thousand Oaks and Athens.

Finger pointing: Thousand Oaks' former trash hauler continues attacks on city's new one

During public comments Monday night, several residents spoke in favor and against the project.

"The Conejo Center Drive property that Athens is seeking to use for truck dispatch really is an ideal location," said Doug Spondello. The project "is an opportunity to limit both vehicle miles traveled and carbon emissions."

But Mark Innocenzi, who resides near the planned facility, said he was concerned about noise, odor and traffic.

"I think it would be better for everybody if such a facility was located much further away from residential in some area where these obvious concerns and issues will not impact the people close by," he said.

But Gary Clifford, executive vice president of Athens, noted that the city's staff report determined the vehicle dispatch center would not create significant traffic or noise impacts.

He praised the commission's ruling in a statement.

"The appeal by Waste Management was another desperate attempt to intimidate the city of Thousand Oaks and interfere with waste collection for customers," he said. "Fortunately, this cynical, disingenuous action proved to have no merit and was unsuccessful."

Waste Management spokesman Eric Rose said the company has not yet decided whether to once again appeal, this time to the City Council.

Mike Harris covers the East County cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, as well as transportation countywide. You can contact him at mike.harris@vcstar.com or 805-437-0323.

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Former T.O. trash hauler Waste Mangement suffers new setback