Brief

Councilmember Heather Hutt, seconded by Ysabel Jurado, introduced a motion to address trash management challenges at multifamily residential properties that include accessory dwelling units. The motion directs the City to develop or revise trash policies and procedures to mitigate the increased waste generation from ADUs. The file is currently pending review in the Energy and Environment Committee, which scheduled the item for its August 4, 2026 meeting.

Full summary

Councilmember Heather Hutt introduced this motion in June 2026 to address a practical side effect of the City's ADU expansion: when garages are converted and additional units are added to multifamily lots, each new unit typically gets its own residential trash bins, rapidly overwhelming the available on-site storage. The result is individual black, blue, and green bins becoming permanent fixtures on sidewalks, alleys, and parkways — creating accessibility barriers, public health concerns, and neighborhood quality-of-life problems. The motion argues that the building permit process has not been aligned with sanitation requirements, leaving properties without adequate planned space for trash receptacles as density increases. The motion instructs three city departments — City Planning (CPD), the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), and the Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN) — to report back within 60 days with recommendations to mitigate increased trash needs specifically at multifamily properties that reach five or more units after ADU additions. The report is also directed to address properties where bin storage is simply insufficient, exploring alternatives such as "micro-dumpster" standards or enrollment in commercial collection programs like RecycLA. The overarching goal is to ensure trash receptacles are fully accommodated on-site, restoring sidewalk and alley accessibility while providing appropriate sanitation service to higher-density residential lots. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and referred to the Energy and Environment Committee on the date of introduction. The committee scheduled the item for its August 4, 2026 meeting — the first substantive hearing on the proposal. The file remains pending in committee and has not yet advanced to a full Council vote.

Activity (2)

• 2026-07-31 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 4, 2026.
• 2026-06-12 Motion referred to Energy and Environment Committee.

Documents (1)

• 2026-06-12 Motion · motion