Earth Day

Advertising Supplement • April 21, 2008

celebrate

earth day 2008

Earth Day by the numbers

4.5 1,500 20

The average person generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day.

Reduce your carbon footprint.

Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions over 1,500 pounds per year.

Every week about 20 species of plants and animals become extinct!

60 30 1 5 1/2 IN

One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.

A glass bottle is recycled and back on the grocery shelf in as little as 30 days.

Number of American families that will be affected by Asthma in the year 2020.

It takes half a barrel of crude oil to produce the rubber for just one truck tire.

25,000,000

Americans throw away 25 million plastic beverage bottles EVERY HOUR!

Earth Day COVER.indd 1

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2 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

L.A. Board of Public Works President Cynthia Ruiz looks forward to Earth Day Says Earth Day should be every day

By Jeff Schenkel, Senior Special Correspondent Special to Think Environment ommissioner Cynthia M. Ruiz, President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, has devoted her life to cleaning up Los Angeles. So naturally, she is a major advocate of observing Earth Day. “I think that Earth Day is a great celebration but I think we should have Earth Day every day,” she said. “It is important that people realize that the environmental movement is not just something that is trendy, it is something that is necessary to help the environment and save the world.”

For Ruiz, preserving the environment really is an every day job. “I am excited over the fact that last year for the first time in the city’s history we had an environmental youth conference where we brought almost 4,000 young people together, ages 12 to 21,” she

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said. “They came together to learn what they can do to help the environment – and the excitement and energy was amazing.”

She said that broad cross-section of the city’s youth learned about the effects of global warming and other concerns, but added that they also had an opportunity to visit with some 80 vendors exhibiting their wares “to show them that there are green jobs so they can help with environmental sustainability.”

Many of these jobs, she added, are high level positions. She pointed out that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the electrical workers’ union, is already training electricians on how to do solar installation and solar repairs.

“This is sunny Southern California – why shouldn’t we be using solar energy,” she said, explaining that the IBEW is preparing its workforce to move into sustainable forms of energy.

Ruiz said her own department is moving toward sustainable energy as well.

“We’re looking at alternative forms of energy with our street lights,” she said, including a current pilot project that will test the use of solar power. “A lot of exciting things are happening,” she said.

She added that one of the reasons the environmental youth conference was so important was that “we understand that by educating the youth, it is powerful because they go home and educate their parents.”

The conference featured celebrities including actor Wilmer Valderrama of MTV and two bio-fuel cars that were “pimped out” on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” program to illustrate alternative sources of fuel for cars.

“We actually did some evaluations and the majority of the young people found it beneficial and wanted more information,” Ruiz said. In fact, the city is already planning a second environmental youth conference – that will be free and open to the public, ages 12 to 22 – to be held Dec. 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The important thing, she said, is people

of all ages need to become involved in the environmental movement.

“People can do simple things – install energy efficient light bulbs, plant a tree, take shorter showers,” Ruiz said. “It all adds up and helps the environment.”

In another area, she said her department is taking a hard look at solid waste. “We’ve always put the majority of our trash in the landfill – burying the trash,” she said. “What we’re looking out now is going out to the stakeholders in the City of Los Angeles and asking them to work with us – everyone wants to get to zero waste.”

“People can do simple things – install energy efficient light bulbs, plant a tree, take shorter showers. It all adds up and helps the environment.

– Cynthia M. Ruiz She said Los Angeles is diverting 62 percent of the trash from landfills by recycling under A.B. 939 which requires cities to recycle – and is one of the recycling leaders in the U.S. The goal is for the city to reach 70 percent by 2015, she said. However, she said the city needs to do more and is involving the public in the planning process.

“Now we are engaging them in the decision making process – we had hundreds of people show up on a Saturday morning to talk trash (at a recent “Zero Waste” conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center),” she said. “That never would have happened 10 years ago.”But, she said, the public understands it is a multi-pronged approach.

The city is also looking at alternative technologies, or different ways of disposing of trash besides landfilling it such as “trash to energy” facilities.

“We are looking at what is the most environmentally friendly way we can dispose of our trash,” she said. “We anticipate we’ll have a facility up and running within the next five years,” although exactly what type is still something that is being studied.

She said despite the city’s significant recycling accomplishments, some 3,600 tons per day of trash still goes to the landfills.

“That’s a lot of trash,” she said, adding that a small percentage – 200 tons per day – is taken to a waste to energy facility in Long Beach. “Imagine the amount of energy we can generate if we use solid waste as a resource instead of just burying it,” she said. “(Otherwise) we’ll get to the point some day in the future where we’ll just run out of space.”

She said the city is also working closely with L.A. Shares, a non-profit materials reuse program which takes donations from the local business community and redistributes these items to non-profits and schools.

One recent donation by Northrop Grumman Corp., she said, resulted in keeping hundreds of computer printers out of the landfill. “Recycling, reusing, all that helps the environment,” she said. There’s also Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s “million tree” program, which went to work more than two years ago planting a million trees in the city – something that other cities such as the City of New York are using as a model. “If everybody works in their own community, pulling all that together we can make a significant difference,” she said, citing the many benefits of trees ranging from shade, capturing storm water and more.

The bottom line, she said, is that she is optimistic about the city’s future.“My primary message is I want everybody to know that if they make small changes in their life that all those changes add up and really help the earth, our planet,” she said. And what is the City of Los Angeles planning for Earth Day? Why, a tree planting at Griffith Park, of course, for one thing. After all, “we do want to bring the trees back to Griffith Park.” For more information, visit the Board of Public Works web site at www.lacity.org/bpw.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Schenkel, a special correspondent to this newspaper, also operates South Coast Media Services, a 24year-old public relations consulting firm based in San Dimas.

The City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works CYNTHIA M. RUIZ, President Board of Public Works

VALERIE LYNNE SHAW Vice President Board of Public Works

“My American Indian heritage has always taught me to respect Mother Earth. Earth Day is a celebration of what we, at Public Works, focus on every single day to reduce global warming and effect positive change: 70% recycling by the year 2015; an entire fleet of clean fuel solid resource collection trucks by 2010; an alternative technology facility to convert waste to energy by 2010; and a Zero Waste Plan to achieve Zero Waste in the City of Los Angeles within the next 20 years and make it the cleanest, greenest City in the nation.”

“Earth Day means taking a good hard look at how we each contribute to the environmental landscape and how can make sweeping positive changes to the environment. All it takes is commitment – one person at a time.”

PAULA A. DANIELS Commissioner Board of Public Works “The celebration of Earth Day is not just an outward expression of our commitment toward the environment, but an overall commitment to the next generation.”

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ERNESTO CÁRDENAS Commissioner Board of Public Works

JULIE B. GUTMAN Commissioner Board of Public Works

“Earth Day for me is a day to celebrate what we are doing to better our environment and it is our reminder to always do more.”

“Earth Day is a day of planning and collaboration: What can we do better, individually and collectively, to ensure a clean environment for generations to come?”

GREENING IN THE SPRING TIME

t’s spring time and the City of Los Angeles is revving up for the 2008 Arbor Day LA. It’s time to pick up that shovel and wear those gardening gloves.

Put on that party hat and join us for a fun-filled event of booths, treats, surprise celebrity guests, entertainment, and free tree giveaways and workshops.

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Saturday, May 17, 2008 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Griffith Park, Park Center Area 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027 Admission is free! For more information, call 213 473-9950 or visit us at www.milliontreesla.org.

This event is presented by Million Trees LA, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 3

‘Zero Waste’ conference in Los Angeles provides public input into city’s efforts to increase percentage of trash diverted from waste stream City already leads the nation by recycling 62 percent

By Jeff Schenkel, Senior Special Correspondent, Special to Think Environment he author of policy in the City of Los Angeles called “Renew L.A.” – which laid the groundwork for the city’s recycling and reuse activities – said while Los Angeles today leads the nation by removing 62 percent of its trash from the waste stream and redirecting it to recycling, the city can do better and has a goal of becoming a “zero waste society.”

Los Angeles City Council member Greig Smith, who represents the city’s 12th District, told nearly 700 participants in the city’s recent second annual citywide conference on its Zero Waste Plan at the Los Angeles Convention Center that there are many options for Vendors display information and diverting waste from the landfills. “Our goal in environmentally friendly products. the City of Los Angeles is to become a zero waste society – nothing is thrown away that passed into law in 1991, which requires cities can’t be used somewhere else in society in a to phase out trash to landfills by increasing beneficial way, creating energy and good their percentage of recycling. jobs,” Smith said. “We at the end of the “The good news is Los Angeles is the decade will become not just one of the great leader in America now in recycling with 62 cities in America and the Mayor’s goal is to percent of our trash being diverted from become the greenest landfills today,” he city in America, but we said. “But the bottom can truly be one of the line is there is always Los Angeles is the leader in something left over. leaders in the world in recycling, reuse and America now in recycling with And that is what the being a green has begun 62 percent of our trash being discussion economy, a green on how we get the diverted from landfills today. rest of that out of environment, a safe city that people are not there.” He pointed to ashamed of their air, statistics showing that not ashamed to drink their water, and proud of in 1990 the city deposited 3,600 tons of trash what we’ve done to maintain a really good every day in local landfills and today – despite landscape for all generations of the future,” he the 62 percent recycling figure – still is added. depositing the same amount.

The Saturday morning conference was “All we’ve effectively done with our policies is recycle our growth,” he explained. designed to involve the public in the decision“And so we know we can do better. I making and policy-making process. “Back in challenged the city council in 2004 to do better.” the 1960s, the environmental movement was begun with a bunch of people who drove Councilman Smith looks to alternative around with long hair, Volkswagen buses with technology for ‘a better way’ green peace signs on their truck,” Smith said.

“Today those people drive Priuses (Toyota Smith commended the Los Angeles Board hybrids) or take the bus – how things have of Public Works and Bureau of Sanitation for changed.” “Here in Los Angeles we had a everything it has done to this point but he said fight to clean our water, Heal the Bay led the he is “really embracing the movement to clean our concept that there’s a better water,” he said. “Thanks to way.” In the near term, he the citizens of Los Angeles said the city’s goal is to we now invest over $2 billion increase the recycling in cleaning up our water.” percentage to a level above He said through the 70 percent. In addition, he leadership on the city said more can be diverted council of Council member through “re-using.”But the Bill Rosendahl (District 11), real effort in the future will be the city had a fight to clean to address the issue of what up its storm water, and can be done with trash that voters in Los Angeles can’t be recycled and how passed a half billion dollar best to place it into a process bond issue to prevent trash that does not pollute but that from flowing into the ocean. can create clean, green He said Council member energy that can be used by LA City Councilman Greig Smith Ed Reyes (District 1) led a the city’s Department of talks about diverting waste from fight to clean up the Los Water and Power (DWP) area landfills.

Angeles river “so it’s no to meet their own goals of longer just a big dumping using 20 percent of ground for waste and trash – it will become recyclable green energy. really a river once again and give new life to He said at the same time, the DWP can Los Angeles.” “take a product from it that is useful in “People in Los Angeles began 34 years ago society (and) at the same time creating trying to fight to clean our air,” he said. good paying jobs.” Smith pointed to “We’re making tremendous progress.” technologies ranging from conversion He said the third element, however, has technology to bio mass to technologies that always been the earth and he said the battle turn the final waste into products that can began 20 years ago to end the city’s be used in cement or asphalt to build dependence on landfills where waste fouls the streets. He cited a European model that has water and fouls the air. been successful that illustrates that the He cited California’s Assembly Bill 939, ultimate remainder is as low as 7 percent.

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More than 700 participants attend the second annual Los Angeles City conference on Zero Waste held at the LA Convention Center.

FACTOID: The Bureau of Sanitation has the largest fleet of municipal trucks in the country that run mainly on clean fuel or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Council member Rosendahl cites programs in Japan where all waste is reused Council member Rosendahl said he and Smith have toured facilities in Japan where “they truly don’t throw anything away.”

“We’re on our path to that,” he said, adding that his district’s local neighborhood councils are already at work placing recycling bins on Venice beach as well as in the Pacific Palisades. “Every public space in this great city needs to have the blue bins,” he said.

He added that the city is beginning to use computer printers capable of printing on both sides of the paper to save paper, and that the city is encouraging the private sector to do the

LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl talks about the need to have blue bins available at every public space.

recycling. “They are the leaders that helped us get to the 62 percent diversion rate,” she said. “This has been an entire paradigm shift for the city.” She explained that in the “old days,” the city made the decisions and announced them to the public. “Now we’ve changed it and we have a process where we get your input from day one,” Ruiz said. “We realize that we are all in this together.”

Ruiz called for a show of hands which illustrated that participants at the conference were from all areas of Los Angeles. “You are really a part of a movement,” she said. “I’m proud to say that this movement is growing.

In December, the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works hosted an environmental youth conference.”

She said nearly 4,000 young people participated in that event. Ruiz added that another feature of the “movement” is it is a bipartisan issue. “We are all in this together, we all need to do our part to help the environment and save the earth,” she concluded.

Enrique Zaldivar, Director of the city’s Bureau of Sanitation, added that by the end of the year the city will have recycling facilities at every apartment house in the city.

“It is a big deal because nowhere else in the country have they attempted to do recycling at apartments,” he said. He also said half of the city’s solid waste fleet now is clean fuel and is the largest clean fuel installation in the nation with more than 450 trucks.

Zaldivar also said his department produces nearly 30 megawatts of green energy from digester gases and landfill gas. He said his agency looks forward to “all the other great challenges you’re going to give us” through the public participation process. For more information, visit www.zerowaste.lacity.org.

same thing. “The bottom line is that democracy at its best is what’s happening here this morning,” Rosendahl said. “You are here because you care. The partnership between public works, our great city and the citizenry is happening right now.”

Board of Public Works President Ruiz says city’s new process involves public Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz, President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works and who for the past two years has championed the Keep Los Angeles Beautiful campaign, said that Smith leads by example and recently remodeled his home to include solar panels and a variety of environmentally friendly features. “So he’s not just talking the talk, he’s walking the walk,” she said, adding that Rosendahl also has been a true champion of

Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz, President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, chats with a conference attendee regarding the Keep Los Angeles Beautiful Campaign.

What Can Be Done To

FIX & PREVENT Roots in your sewer he City of Los Angeles operates and maintains the largest wastewater collection system in the United States. This includes more than 6,600 miles of public sewers, serving a residential population of about four million people in a 550-square-mile service area.

There are also some 11,000 miles of private sewer lateral pipes or laterals throughout the City. Laterals are sewer pipes that extend from building structures to street sewers.

It is the responsibility of property owners to operate and maintain their private lateral sewer pipes.

Tree roots in sewer pipes cause damage and are the reason why many sewers backup. Roots can enter sewer pipes through cracks or loose joints. Over half of tree roots in the City’s sewer system enter through defective private lateral sewer pipes.

The City maintains its sewers by: (1) routinely removing roots using a chemical treatment process; (2) systematically inspecting street sewers using Closed Circuit Television technology to identify structural defects; and (3) planning and implementing capital improvement projects to repair, rehabilitate or replace structurally deficient sewers.

It is important that property owners inspect, maintain, repair and/or replace private lateral sewer pipes to help reduce sewer overflow and protect the sewage system from further damage.

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What Causes Roots to Grow in Pipes?

Roots are attracted to water vapor that escapes through cracks or loose joints in sewer pipes. This means roots will move towards and penetrate through cracks, loose joints or any openings in sewer pipes.

This happens even in the winter when trees appear to be dormant.

Once inside, roots will continue to grow and fill the pipe to create a root mass that can become matted with grease, paper and other solid matter. This is what eventually causes a clogged sewer.

As roots continue to grow within a pipe,

they begin to expand and exert pressure at their point of entry. This can result in a pipe rupture. A ruptured sewer pipe can be costly to fix or replace.

Signs that a sewer is blocked include slow flowing drains, gurgling sounds from a toilet bowl and wet areas around washing machine floor drains. A pipe that is not cleared will become completely blocked and may rupture.

Pipes Susceptible to Root Damage Certain pipe material is more resistant to root intrusion than others. Vitrified clay pipes, for example, are more susceptible to root penetration and damage when compared with Schedule 40 ABS and PVC DWV pipes that have fewer and more tightly fitted joints.

What Can Be Done to Remove Tree Roots in Sewer Pipes?

The most common method to remove roots from sewer pipes is to use augers and saws augmented with commercial herbicides that kill roots. Do not, however, use copper sulfate and sodium hydroxide because although these chemicals kill roots, they do not prevent re-growth. They also damage the environment when they flow into our oceans.

A more up-to-date method used to clear pipes is to pump a mixture of water, an herbicide and foaming agent through the pipe.

Do consult a plumber or sewer contractor before deciding which remedy to use.

Consult the Yellow Pages under the heading “Sewer” or “Plumbing” for information on companies that perform CCTV pipe inspection and root control. It is always a good idea to get two or three quotes for any work that must be considered. Hire a licensed plumber or contractor.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.lasewers.org, or call: Sewer Customer Service: (323) 342-6006 Sewer Odor Hotline: (800) 773-2489 Any service, one call to City Hall: 311 Photo shows tree roots that have grown into a sanitary sewer line, clogging and breaking the pipe.

4 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

Bureau of Sanitation Fees and Charges Q & A

By Lisa Mowery & Neil Guglielmo, Special to Think Environment he primary responsibility of the City’s Bureau of Sanitation is to collect, clean and recycle solid and liquid waste generated by residential, commercial and industrial users in the City of Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The Bureau protects the public health and environment and enhances the quality of life in the City of Los Angeles neighborhoods by meeting or exceeding the many stringent environmental standards for the area — and it does so at a cost which is about average when compared for similar charges locally and nationally.

The Bureau carries out its responsibilities through three primary programs: Watershed protection; Wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment, and disposal; and Solid resources collection, recycling and disposal.

Since these programs do not receive any sales or property tax revenues, they are supported though user fees, which appear as the Sewer Service Charge (SSC) and Solid Resource Fee (SRF) on your Water & Power Bill.

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Here’s a little explanation about each: Q: How are Sewer Service Charges calculated?

A: Residential: The SSC is the main user fee by which customers pay for their proportional use of the waste-water system. SSCs are based on your water consumption and calculated so you only pay for the water that is discharged to the sewer. Your SSCs for the year are based on your lowest water consumption from the previous winter rainy period, further reduced by a factor that accounts for the amount of rainfall.

Commercial: For billing purposes, “commercial” also refers to governmental, industrial and apartment buildings with more than four units. Most commercial customers are billed based on the assumption that 90 percent of their water is discharged to the sewer.

Q: I always have a high SSC. What can I do to reduce this charge?

A: Residential: You can lower your SSCs by conserving water during the winter rainy period.

This period usually extends from October through April, although it is adjusted each year based on actual rainfall patterns. Customers should also install water-conserving devices such as ultralow-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads.

Commercial: If you install water-conserving devices and equipment, both your water and sewer charges will be reduced. If your business has a process that uses large amounts of water that are not discharged to the sewer (production of ice, cooling towers, etc.), contact the Bureau of Sanitation for a review of your SSC. Q: I am a residential customer with a low income. Are there any programs to help me?

A: Yes, the City has a Low-Income Subsidy program for the SSC. If you have a qualifying income for the number of occupants at your residence, you will receive a 31-percent discount on the first 900 cubic feet of sewage discharged per month. This program is administered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. For more information, phone (800) 342-5397 or (213) 481-5411; TDD (800) 735-2922.

Q: I am not connected to the sewer. Do I still pay SSC? A: Customers who are not connected to the City sewer because they have septic tanks or are connected to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts should not pay SSC. To determine if you are receiving wastewater treatment from the County, review your property tax bill to see if you have a direct assessment for one of the sanitation districts. If you believe you are being incorrectly billed for SSC, contact the Bureau of Sanitation.

Q: What is the Solid Resources Fee (SRF) and what does it pay for?

A: On September 1, 2006, you may have noticed a Solid Resource Fee (SRF) appearing on your DWP bill. The SRF effectively replaces the Sanitation Equipment Charge or SEC that previously appeared on your bill. The new SRF pays for solid waste collection, transfer, recovery, recycling and disposal services for approximately 740,000 households in Los Angeles. In addition to refuse collection and disposal, the SRF also pays for the following services:

Container Repair, Container Replacement, Move-in — Move-out Services, Unlimited Bulky Item Pick-up, Annual Brush Collection, Dead Animal Collection, Christmas Tree Collection and Drop-off Sites and Household Hazardous Waste Collection at SAFE Centers.

Frequently asked questions about the SRF and trash collection and recycling in general: Q: How do I know if I am receiving this service?

A: If your household has the black, blue, and/or green solid waste containers provided by the City, and page two of your Department of Water & Power bill shows a dollar amount under “Solid Resources Fee” or “Sanitation Equipment Charge,” then you are receiving the services.

Q: Can I do anything to lower my SRF? A: The SRF is a flat fee so you won’t be able to reduce the amount you pay. However, by increasing the amount you recycle, you will help keep the City’s costs down, and in turn, defer the need for future fee increases.

Q: How much do residents in other Cities pay?

A: A recent survey of trash collection fees in 81 Los Angeles County cities showed the City of Los Angeles at number 38. At $18/month, the City of Los Angeles is very comparable in its fees and competitive in terms of services provided.

Q: Can I get additional information on recycling and the Bureau of Sanitation?

A: For more information, call the Bureau of Sanitation Customer Call Center at (800) 773-2489.

Common Questions & Answers About Your Trash Q: Why is the Solid Resources Fee higher than the Sanitation Equipment Charge?

A: Fees were increased to recover a greater portion of costs associated with trash collection, transfer and disposal. It costs the City of Los Angeles approximately $35 to collect and dispose of trash from a typical single-family home. The $11 Solid Resources Fee charged through DWP bills was inadequate to cover costs. The City paid the $24 difference out of general City funds. The updated Solid Resources Fee of $18 is still significantly lower than the actual $35 cost to provide this service and the City will continue to pay the $17 difference. The $7 increase in fees will free up some of the City’s general fund monies to pay for other much-needed programs such as public safety programs.

Q: Aren’t trash collection fees included in my property taxes?

A: No. Property tax revenue generally pays for other obligations such as fire and police services.

Q: What items can I put into my blue bin?

A: Do place the items listed below in your blue, recycling bin or container. Make sure that items placed in your blue recycling container are clean and free from contaminants.

Clean, Dry Paper — computer, ledger, wrapping, arts and craft paper, unwanted mail, flyers, telephone books, note cards, newspaper, blueprints, magazines, file folders, paper bags, Post-it notes, catalogs; and all envelopes including those with windows.

Cardboard Boxes & Chipboard — cereal, tissue, dry food, frozen food, shoe, and detergent boxes; paper and toilet rolls; and corrugated boxes broken down and flattened.

Aluminum, Tin, Metal and Bi-Metal Cans — rinsed if possible, soda, juice, soup, vegetables, and pet food cans; pie tins; clean aluminum foils; empty paint and aerosol cans with plastic caps removed and wire hangers Glass Bottles and Jars — (rinsed if possible) soda, wine, beer, spaghetti sauce, pickle jars, broken bottles, etc.

Empty Plastic Containers — (rinsed if possible) soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouth-wash, dishwashing liquid bottles, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters, etc.

All Plastic Bags and All Film Bags — grocery bags and dry cleaner bags

City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation

“WHAT’S UP MR. RECYCLE?” 2008 Citywide Open House Events

“It’s RECYCLING TIME!” JOIN the city’s recycling dynamic duo “Mr. Recycle" and "Robo Blue,” the Blue Bin Robots as they rock and roll into action to teach, promote and inspire recycling at the 6th annual citywide open house events.

EXPERIENCE fun, food, games and prizes for KIDS of all ages! Information booths, yard tour and special giveaways with spirited music provide a wonderful weekend adventure to the city’s sanitation yards.

For more information on “DISCOVER RECYCLING,” visit www.lacity.org/SAN or call (800) 773-2489. Sponsored by: City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation

2008 “Discover Recycling” Open House Events Saturday, May 3, 2008 East Valley District Yard 11050 Pendleton St., Sun Valley, CA 91352 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 7, 2008 South Los Angeles District Yard 786 S. Mission Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90023 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 17, 2008 West Valley District Yard 8840 Vanalden Ave., Northridge, CA 91324 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 21, 2008 Harbor District Yard 1400 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, CA 90731 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 31, 2008 North Central District Yard 452 San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90031 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 28, 2008 West Los Angeles District Yard 2027 Stoner Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

One Call to City Hall Does it All

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 5

Bureau of Sanitation Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Kim Tran, Special to Think Environment he City of Los Angeles, Board of Public Works proudly announces the installation and operation of its fourth clean fuel station at the South Los Angeles Solid Resources Collection District Yard. This stateof-the-art refueling station is equipped with three storage tanks that hold liquefied natural gas (LNG). At a combined capacity of 45,000 gallons, this facility will provide fueling service to approximately 100 clean-fuel heavy-duty solid resources collection vehicles. In addition, the station is fully capable of refueling the City’s other clean-fuel vehicles operating on compressed natural gas (CNG).

Solid resources collection vehicles historically operated on 100-percent diesel. In March 2000, the South Coast Air Quality Management District published a report on Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES-II) that found that the carcinogenic risk in the South Coast Air Basin is predominantly contributed by emissions from mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, trains, ships, aircraft, etc.). Approximately 70 percent of all risk is attributed to diesel particulate emissions.

The locations with the greatest risk levels were in the metropolitan areas including the southcentral and east-central portions of the Los Angeles County.

In early 2006, Mayor Villaraigosa directed the Bureau of Sanitation to convert the entire diesel-powered solid resources collection fleet to clean fuel vehicles by 2010. The Mayor’s

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initiative resonates with the City of Los Angeles’ commitment to air quality betterment for all residents.

The addition of this clean-fuel facility to its growing number of LNG and CNG refueling stations highlights a new milestone in the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation’s pledge to clean air. The entire residential solid resources collection operation in the City of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley area is now conducted using clean-fuel vehicles running mainly on

This new, state-of-the-art LNG/CNG fueling station, owned and managed by the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Sanitation provides LNG fueling service to a fleet of clean- fuel solid resources collection vehicles at the South Los Angeles Solid Resources Collection District Yard.

liquefied natural gas, with a small substitution of ultra-low sulfur diesel for pilot ignition. In addition, the City of Los Angeles has been operating natural-gas powered solid resources collection vehicles in the Harbor District since December 2005.

The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation is operating one of the largest municipal fleets of clean-fuel heavy-duty vehicles in the country, with more than 260 LNG-powered solid resources collection vehicles in service. The

deployment of this clean-fuel fleet results in the estimated reduction in emissions of 40 tons of oxides of nitrogen, one ton of particulate matter and 420 metric tons of carbon equivalent of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, etc.).

The Bureau of Sanitation’s Clean Fuel Program is partially funded by grants from various federal, state and local agencies, including the United States Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, the

Carl Moyer Program and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.

The Bureau provides curbside collection service of solid resources material, including recyclables, yard and tree trimmings and refuse to approximately 750,000 single- and multifamily residences within a 465-square-mile area.

The Bureau operates one of the largest municipal solid resources collection fleets in the country, with more than 700 heavy-duty vehicles.

Zaldivar Appointed Director of Bureau of Sanitation Special to Think Environment os Angeles City Council today unanimously confirmed Enrique Zaldivar as the permanent Director of the Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation, announces Board of Public Work President Cynthia Ruiz.

Zaldivar has served as Interim Director of the Bureau of Sanitation since September 28. Mayor Antonio Villariagrosa appointed him as permanent Director of the Bureau on October 29, subject to City Council confirmation today.

“Enrique Zaldivar possesses the background and experience, leadership skills, managerial ability and enthusiasm needed to successfully lead the Bureau of Sanitation,” said Ruiz. “I’m pleased that he has been appointed and confirmed as Executive Director.”

Appointed as Executive Officer for the Bureau in 2006, Zaldivar served as an Assistant Director since 2002. As Executive Officer, he oversaw nearly 3,000 employees, operated with an annual budget of over $220 million, and maintained Bureau–wide oversight of the Solid Resources Management, Wastewater and Watershed Protection programs.

As Assistant Director, Zaldivar was responsible for the Solid Resources Management Program and nearly 1,2000 employees providing service in solid resources collection, landfill maintenance, facility construction and design, curbside and citywide recycling, private sector recycling coordination, and program development.

Among his many successes, Zaldivar counts the achievement of

L

done graduate work there, as well. He is active in 60% recycling diversion and 50% clean fuel several professional and trade organizations. implementation in the Bureau’s fleet. He launched Primary responsibilities of the Bureau of the Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan Sanitation include collecting, cleaning and recycling (SWIRP), development the successful Recycling solid and liquid waste generated by residential, Ambassador Program, and instituted an effective commercial and industrial users in the City of Los Labor/Management Program.

Angeles and surrounding communities. With Previous positions he has held in the Sanitation approximately 2,800 dedicated professional, Bureau include Assistant Division Manager in the technical, administrative, Solid Resources craft, clerical and service Collection Division, personnel, the Bureau and Program Enrique Zaldivar possesses the protects the public health Manager in the background and experience, and environment and Engineering and leadership skills, managerial ability enhances the quality of life Construction Division and enthusiasm needed to successfully in the City of Los Angeles' and Wastewater lead the Bureau of Sanitation. neighborhoods.

Program – Cynthia M. Ruiz Responsibilities are Management carried out through the Division. management and Zaldivar has risen administration of three through the ranks of primary programs: Wastewater collection, the Bureau of Sanitation since 1985, when he conveyance, treatment, and disposal; Solid started his career with the City of Los Angeles in resources collection, recycling and disposal; and the Bureau of Engineering as a design engineer on Watershed protection. wastewater treatment plants and major sewer A five member Board of Commissioners projects. oversee the Department of Public Works, the In 1990, he was promoted to the Sanitation City’s third largest Department, with an annual Bureau’s Recycling Program, then in its formative budget of more than $1 billion. With more than stage. Over time, his project team made the 5,700 employees, the Department is responsible City’s curbside recycling program one of the most for construction, renovation and operation of public successful in the nation. facilities and infrastructure and provides essential In 1997, he was promoted to Assistant Division public services like recycling and solid waste Manager of the Collection Division and developed management. a passion for world-class service delivery of solid For more information, call the Department of resources, serving no less than 750,000 Public Works Public Works Public Affairs Office at customers weekly, and managing more than 1.5 million annual tons of solid resources commodities (213) 978-0333, visit the www.lacity.org/bpw/., or through recycling, processing, composting, email: PAO@lacity.org. mulching or disposal.

Zaldivar graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1985 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and has

Sowing Million Special to Think Environment

n September 2006, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa (photo, left) announced the exciting city-wide greening effort Million Trees LA. The plan was to engage all residents of the City of Los Angeles to grow the city’s tree population by planting one million trees over the next several years. Apart from the growing environmental consciousness and concerns over climate change, the tree program was launched to address the city’s canopy cover which falls short of the national average, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

During its first year, Million Trees LA staff and project partners were at approximately 200 community events where they reached more than 100,000 people and educated them about the importance of trees and the benefits to the environment. The effort was well received and on the program’s first year

I

Trees LA

anniversary, more than 110,000 trees have been reported both planted and pledged to be planted throughout the city — on private properties, by city departments, in parks and schools.

Cynthia M. Ruiz, City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works president and Million Trees LA spokesperson says, “The first year of the program was focused on creating an awareness about Million Trees LA. We wanted people to hear about it, respond to it, and remember it. With a tree count of more than 110,000 planted or pledged to be planted on the first year alone, we can tell that we are off to a great start!”

“There’s more to do as the success of this program does not only rely on the number of trees that we plant,” Ruiz adds. “We also need to educate the tree planters about proper tree care. This will ensure that the trees will live.”

At the onset of the program’s second year, Million Trees LA kicks up its outreach efforts by engaging the youth. Program managers believe that educating today’s youth about tree benefits and proper care will ensure the trees’ sustainability. A firstever environmental youth conference is being planned for later this year. Young city

There’s more to do as the success of this program does not only rely on the number of trees that we plant.

residents ages 12 to 21 will be encouraged to imbibe sound environmental practices such as recycling and tree planting and understand the significant global impacts of local actions.

Presentations on career ladders in green industries will also be an event highlight.

Million Trees LA will continue to go out to communities to host tree adoption events, planting trees, and conducting workshops on proper tree care. There will also be more plantings focused on areas of low canopy cover. Residents are encouraged to continue supporting the effort that will make Los Angeles greener. Plant a tree and care for it!

Do your bit and be one in a million!

To learn more about tree care, to adopt a tree and to find out about events in your neighborhood, visit www.milliontreesla.org or call 3-1-1.

Love LA — Keep it Clean!

6 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

VOTER APPROVED PROPOSITION “O” DELIVERS IMPROVED WATER QUALITY $500 million dedicated to the reduction of bacteria and pollution from urban and storm water runoff – Protection of public health and safety at beaches and ocean paramount

By Shahram Kharaghani, Stormwater Program Manager, Special to Think Environment

GOAL From the foothills of Silver Lake to the flatlands of the San Fernando Valley, to the cool coastal climate of San Pedro, the landscape of the city of Los Angeles is both varied and diverse. By contrast, the challenges faced by the city are equally as great in the responses to cleanup the urban and stormwater runoff pollution in a city of four million people. To address the water quality challenges facing this city and Southern California, Proposition O will fund and develop 19 stormwater pollution cleanup projects totaling more than $500 million between the city and its numerous community stakeholders and agency partners.

SHARPS A Home Guide to Syringe Disposal

SHARPS

Sharps users can take their own Sharps containers filled with used needles to appropriate collection sites: doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments.

DANGERS OF IMPROPER DISPOSAL When thrown into the regular trash, recycling container, or green waste container, Sharps can injure sanitation workers. In addition, the liquid remaining in Sharps may seep into and contaminate our groundwater and/or ocean we swim in.

CORRECT METHOD TO MANAGE SHARPS Use either an approved Sharps container or a metal coffee can. Don’t use empty water bottles.

Keep your container out of reach of small children and pets! flush your syringes or medications down the toilet! !! NEVER fill your container to the top! Allow two to three inches in between Don’t the syringes or lancets and the top of the container. a lid on it! After you use a syringe or lancet, put it directly into your ! Put approved Sharps container, with a tight cap or lid. it is full, find out which disposal method is best for you, ! OnceReturn sealed container to your physician

Return sealed container to your pharmacy Deliver sealed container or other securable container (such as coffee container, plastic laundry container) to a mobile event, or S.A.F.E. center

! BUT, don’t put the sealed container into your household trash, recycling bin or Green Waste bin!

FOR MORE INFORMATION Learn more about lancets, syringe, needle and other Sharps disposal, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation Household Hazardous Waste Programs by calling the Bureau of Sanitation Hotline at (800) 773-CITY (2489), or by visiting the Web site at www.earth911.org.

S.A.F.E. Collection Centers are available to all City and County residents and are conveniently located throughout the City:

S.A.F.E. Center

Location

Address

Hours of Operation

Hyperion

Hyperion Treatment Plant

12000 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday

Washington

Central Los Angeles

2649 E. Washington Blvd.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Gaffey

San Pedro

1400 N. Gaffey St.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Randall

Sun Valley

11025 Randall St.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

UCLA

UCLA

UCLA University Campus Environmental Services Facility

8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Los Angeles/ Glendale

Los AngelesGlendale Water Reclamation Plant

4600 Colorado Blvd.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday

LATEST NEWS Prop “O” Delivers Results in Reducing Pollution in Santa Monica Bay Urban Water Runoff Diverts to Hyperion Treatment Plant to Improve Bay Water Quality Los Angeles, CA (March 5, 2008)—City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation today announced the city’s expanded commitment to improve the water quality of Santa Monica Bay. The utilization of iterative processes that reduce pollutants significantly decreased the amount of bacterial pollution and contaminated runoff from streets, sidewalks, yards and lots.

The program results of Proposition O funds reduced bacteria levels by more than 85 percent to protect marine life and the recreational use of the region’s beaches.

PROP O

Prop “O” Succeeds in Reducing Litter in Los Angeles More than 20,000 new catch basin screens and inserts are already diverting 1,537 tons of trash from reaching the ocean and polluting L.A. waterways and beaches Los Angeles, CA (December 13, 2007)—Los Angeles City Council Members Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry were joined by leaders from the Department of Public Works, the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program, Heal the Bay, and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board today to announce the overwhelming success of the first two phases of Proposition O’s Catch Basin Screen Cover and Insert Project, which prevents litter from polluting the Los Angeles River, Ballona Creek and local beaches. Prop O facilitated the installation of 14,300 catch basin screen covers and 7,400 catch basin inserts throughout the high and medium trash generation areas of the city to prevent litter from being released into L.A.’s surrounding water bodies.

BENEFITS • • • •

$250 million—Clean rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and the ocean $100 million—Improve water quality and stop polluted runoff $75 million—Water conservation projects $75 million—Clean and reuse stormwater

LEADERSHIP Cynthia M. Ruiz, president of the Board of Public Works “Santa Monica Bay and our shorelines are among the nation’s most important coastal symbols. This emphasizes our underlying principle and motivation to protect the bay, beaches and ocean. To that end, the city has committed to effectively using the $500 million from the Prop O bond to address pollution and improve water quality. Through Prop O, more projects will come online to protect public health, capture runoff and address the Clean Water Act.” Enrique C. Zaldivar, director of the Bureau of Sanitation “Environmental protection underscores our commitment to develop and implement innovative water quality solutions. The city has worked and continues to work diligently with regional regulators to comply with water quality requirements and address the regional challenge of urban and stormwater runoff.”

BACKGROUND On November 2, 2004, LA voters passed Prop O with a 76% majority. The $500 million clean water and beach bond authorizes the city of Los Angeles to fund projects that protect public health, capture stormwater for reuse and meet the Federal Clean Water Act through removal and prevention of pollutants entering regional waterways.

ABOUT City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program The Watershed Protection Division, founded in 1990, is part of the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. The Division is responsible for the development and implementation of stormwater pollution abatement projects within the City. The Stormwater Program has two major elements — pollution abatement and flood control and its mission is to protect the beneficial uses of receiving waters while complying with all flood control and pollution abatement regulations.

To report abandoned waste, accidental spills, clogged catch basins and illegal discharges into the streets or storm drain system, residents can call the program’s toll-free hotline (1-800-974-9794) or get more information at www.lastormwater.org.

is the term used to describe any item that is capable of puncturing the skin, such as carpules, needles, lancets, suture needles, endo files, etc.

South Los Angeles

Site to be determined

West San Fernando Valley

Site to be determined

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 7

Alternative Technologies for Processing Post-source Separated Municipal Solid Waste SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW ot long ago, residents of Southern California faced almost daily smog alerts caused by car emissions. Today, new technologies have significantly reduced the amount of pollution caused by cars resulting in improved air quality that we all enjoy.The same story can be true for how we handle our trash.Over the last 20 years, growing populations have created a wave of trash that is rapidly filling up our existing landfills. However, during that time, new technologies have emerged that convert trash into renewable energy sources.

Utilizing these technologies will result in an improved environment and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.Today, Alternative Technologies are being used worldwide in countries across Europe and Asia. In the United States, they are being embraced by many municipalities and solid waste companies. The City of Los Angeles is demonstrating environmental leadership by developing ways to implement innovative Alternative Technologies for processing the City’s solid waste. This effort is supported by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and is consistent with the City Council’s recently adopted RENEW L.A. Plan (Recovering Energy, Natural Resources and Economic Benefit from Waste for Los Angeles).

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Real cost of landfilling While using local landfilling sites has historically been the cheapest way to

dispose of trash, people tend not to consider all the costs associated with placing our trash in the ground. For example, transfer vehicles that truck our trash to landfills criss-cross through the City of Los Angeles everyday and contribute pollutants to our air. Both active and closed landfill sites can leak contaminants into our groundwater and release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere over a long period of time. Dumping harmful trash into our landfills can threaten our water resources and air quality. new resources and helping improve our environment in the City of Los Angeles.

The promise of technology Can you imagine taking normal everyday waste and converting it into a renewable energy source that can power your home or fuel your car? These technologies exist today and soon will become more commonplace as municipalities recognize that solid waste is a valuable resource that can generate new sources of revenue. The Bureau of Sanitation is leading the way in California and nationwide with its goal to have an Alternative Technology Facility operating by 2010 to process municipal solid waste. Using Alternative Technologies, the Bureau of Sanitation will transform waste into renewable energy, providing

The Bureau of Sanitation (BOS), is a leader in trash diversion The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation is considered a trendsetter in the waste disposal industry, having implemented highly successful waste reduction and recycling programs.

Currently, the City of Los Angeles diverts 62 percent of its municipal solid waste into the recycling process. That is 12 percent above the State of California average and 25 percent higher than the United States average. The Bureau of Sanitation continues to push the envelope with innovative facilities and services planned to meet the goal of diverting 70 percent of its refuse from landfills by 2015. The Bureau of Sanitation is also committed to developing community-based solutions that benefit the environment and improve our quality of life.

No place for our remaining trash Do you know where the non-recycled trash from your home or office ends up?

Most of it is buried in local landfills. However, these will soon be full and no additional landfills will be allowed in Los Angeles County. This means unless we do something different, the City of Los Angeles will be forced to use rail or trucks to haul our trash a much farther distance, at several times the existing cost. This expense would ultimately be passed on to residents and businesses.

Using Alternative Technologies, the Bureau of Sanitation will transform waste into a renewable energy source that helps clean our environment GOALS OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES • Produce new energy sources that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and need for costly electric power generation plants • Reduce air pollution and long-term environmental consequences of landfills • Divert waste from landfills • Produce a marketable resource

8 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 9

10 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

Los Angeles/Glendale - 4600 Colorado Blvd., L.A. CA - Saturdays & Sundays, 9am-3pm

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Service Directory To reach the Department of Public Works, dial 311, or contact the various agencies in the department by calling their hotlines or visiting them on the Web. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS General information

www.lacity.org/bpw (213) 978-0265

BUREAU OF SANITATION For information on curbside collection (recycling/trash/bulky item pickup) Dead animal pickup For information on disposal of residential and small business special materials, used motor oil To report a storm drain spill, clogged catch basin, illegal dumping, abandoned hazardous waste on city property For information on sewer service charge

www.lacity.org/san

(800) 974-9794 (800) 540-0952

THE BUREAU OF SANITATION

www.lacity.org/boss (800) 996-2489

BUREAU OF STREET LIGHTING For information on street lighting repair

www.lacity.org/bsl Dial 311

BUREAU OF ENGINEERING General information

eng.lacity.org Dial 311

BUREAU OF CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION General information Contract compliance

www.lacity.org/bca Dial 311 Dial 311

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION For information on graffiti removal, neighborhood matching fund program, educational outreach program

www.laocb.org (866) 4LA-CITY

Understanding How

Public Works Serves You he City of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Works plans, designs, constructs, operates and maintains roads, bridges, sewer systems, street trees and other public facilities and infrastructure for the third largest municipal agency in the country. It serves a population of more than 3.8 million, along with the hundreds of thousands of people who work in the City every day, plus more than 23 million visitors who come to Los Angeles every single year. Public Works provides services to every single household in Los Angeles over a 465-square-mile area, from Sylmar to San Pedro. It has an annual budget of more than $1billion.

“We have some 6,000 employees in the Department of Public Works, who work with quiet professionalism and dedication to provide a range of services that most people rely on and yet don’t really think about as they go about with their daily lives,” said Board of Public Works President Cynthia Ruiz. “It is a mammoth undertaking,” she added.

The Board of Public Works is comprised of five Commissioners who work with the different Bureaus that comprise the Department of Public Works. These include the Bureaus of Sanitation, Street Lighting, Street Services, Engineering and Contract Administration. Other offices are also located at the Board, including the Public Affairs Office, Management-Employee Services, Accounting, Neighborhood Beautification and the Mayor’s Million Tree Program.

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“You Call. We’ll Haul!”

Apartment Tenants & Owners Can Now Call For Bulky Item Pickup Special to Think Environment

n October 1, 2007, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti of the 13th District and Council member Tom La Bonge of the 4th District launched the City’s new Multi-Family Bulky Item Collection Program for apartments at a news conference on Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles.

“On August 3 this year, Los Angeles City Council, with the concurrence of Mayor Villaraigosa, unanimously voted to expand the Bureau of Sanitation’s Bulky Item Collection Program to include residents and owners of apartment complexes comprised of five or more units,” said Board of Public Works President Cynthia Ruiz. “Now City residents who reside in multi-family apartments can call 3-1-1, the City’s 24-hour hotline, to make an appointment for bulky item pick up and disposal.”

“The expansion of the bulky item pick up program is helping make Los Angeles a better city to live in. Now 1.4 million more Angelenos will be able to clean up their streets,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“The expanded program is aimed at reducing neighborhood blight associated with abandoned and/or improperly discarded bulky items such as sofas, mattresses, appliances, televisions and computer monitors that are illegally dumped on sidewalks, in alleys and parks,” said new Bureau of Sanitation Director Enrique Zaldivar. “This program now gives apartment residents the opportunity to properly and conveniently dispose of large discarded items that cannot fit into regular trash containers. In short, you call and we’ll haul!” At the same time, Zaldivar underscored, “While we provide this service, we also encourage residents to recycle their bulky items by donating them to charitable organizations and thrift stores when possible.

There is no up-front fee for the service. However, the Multi-Family Bulky Item service is funded via a nominal fee charged apartment owners and residents on their Department of Water & Power Bill.

The Bureau of Sanitation provides free pickup and disposal of bulky items to nearly 745,000 residential customers. Expansion of the Bulky Item Pickup program adds this service to some 600,000 multi-family apartment units.

It is illegal to abandon bulky items on the sidewalk or street. The fine for illegal dumping is $1,000. Sites that have illegally dumped items will be identified, given notice and monitored. Continued violations may result in a fine.

For additional information or to make an appointment for bulky item pickup, the public can call the 3-1-1 hotline or (800) 773-2489, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., or send an email request to: SANcallcenter@lacity.org.

The Bureau of Street Lighting designs, constructs, operates, maintains and repairs city streetlights. It is responsible for the financial administration of the Lighting District.

The Bureau provides quality, timely, costeffective and courteous service to the community of Los Angeles in meeting the needs for lighting streets and public ways within established authorities.

The City’s Streetlight System: • Is comprised of more than 230,000 streetlights that incorporate more than 400 different varieties of lights • Covers 4,500 of the City’s 7,000-mile area

(800) 773-2489 (800) 988-6942

BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES For information on sidewalk and pothole repairs, tree trimming, street and alley cleaning, street resurfacing, illegal dumping

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THE BUREAU OF STREET LIGHTING

The primary responsibility of the Bureau of Sanitation is to collect, clean and recycle solid and liquid waste generated by residential, commercial and industrial users in the City of Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

The Bureau of Sanitation provides the following services: • Curbside collection of refuse, recyclables, yard trimming and bulky items • Collection and disposal of residential special material • Sewer and storm drain maintenance and repair • Wastewater collection and treatment • Watershed protection

INTERESTING BUREAU OF SANITATION FACTS: • Curbside collection services provided to around 750,000 homes • 9.3 million tons of refuse/trash are handled every year • Approximately 2,800 dedicated professional, technical, administrative, craft, clerical and service personnel work in the Bureau to protect public health and the environment and to enhance the quality of life in Los Angeles neighborhoods.

BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES The Bureau of Street Services maintains, improves, resurfaces and reconstructs streets in the City of Los Angeles. It is also responsible for maintaining the City’s urban forest along with a host of other services.

These include: • Maintenance, repair and improvements to approximately 6,500 miles of dedicated public thoroughfare (28,000 lane miles) and 800 miles of alleys in the largest street system in the United States • Engineering design of streets and streetscapes

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 11

• Street sweeping in commercial, industrial and residential areas • Sidewalk cleaning contract oversight • Cleaning pedestrian tunnels, public stairways and homeless areas within the public right-of-way • Removal of litter and illegally dumped debris from public streets and alleys • Maintenance of approximately 3,000 trash receptacles throughout the City • Cleanup before and after all major events, including parades • Public health and safety-related code enforcement within the public right-of-way, including illegal dumping and obstructions in the public right-of-way, entrance canopies and illegal combustible rubbish on public or private property • Coordination of homeless cleanup activities • Illegal sign removal • Enforcement of Street Use and Vending Ordinances • Supervision of the movement of houses and oversized loads on city streets • Lot clearance on improved lots • Brush removal from hillside properties • Maintenance of the City’s 680,000-tree urban forest, including planting, trimming and the removal of stumps and dead trees • Maintenance of more than 290 acres of landscaped median islands • Enforcement of street tree and oak tree ordinances • Public’s health and safety improvement as it relates to noxious vegetation, trash, debris, hazards and public nuisances on both privately- and publicly owned property

BUREAU OF ENGINEERING The Bureau of Engineering designs specifications and prepares estimates for major public improvement projects. It is responsible for: • Issuing engineering permits • Subdivision requirements • Checking public improvement plans by private developers • Construction cost estimates • Construction contract management • The planning and design of capital improvement projects, such as stormwater and sewer systems, streets and other infrastructure

BUREAU OF CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION The Bureau of Contract Administration administers contracts and permits for public works construction and improvement projects.

These include streets, sewers, storm drains,street lighting and all other public improvements.

12 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

Love LA — Keep it Clean!

One Call, 3-1-1, to City Hall Does it All.

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 13

Breathe L.A. takes to the sky to raise money for children’s environmental education in sponsored skydiving event over Lake Elsinore

By Jeff Schenkel, Senior Special Correspondent,

Special to Think Environment

hen it comes to environmental education programs for children, at Breathe L.A. (Breathe California of Los Angeles County), the sky’s the limit.

And this time, their fundraising plans are still up in the air – literally – as supporters are packing their parachutes to skydive over Lake Elsinore to raise money for the cause in the first ever Breathe L.A. Charity Skydive.

Breathe L.A., created in 1903 as an organization to study and prevent tuberculosis, long has been working in the areas of air pollution, respiratory disease, asthma and more.

One of its most popular programs is the Breathe L.A. O24U Program, targeting children in after-school enrichment activities at schools and Boys and Girls Clubs, primarily in impacted areas near freeways, refineries or the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

“Children learn the value of recycling and the important role they can play in protecting the environment for future generations,” said Pat Etem, Breathe L.A.’s program director.

While the program – in operation since 2001 – currently is working with over 2,500 youngsters at 53 after school site locations and is expanding rapidly, it can only grow as big as its budget since it is provided at no cost to the participating schools and clubs.

“It takes money, that’s why we’re jumping out of planes,” said Julia Robinson Shimizu, Director of Marketing/Communications for Breathe L.A. Shimizu, who said she is jumping herself because she is asking others to

W

strap in and bail out, added that she is paying her $25 registration fee like everybody else and is gathering sponsors through the web site.

The planeload of 24 will go up on Saturday and, with each skydiver setting a goal of approximately $5,000, the event is expected to raise as much as $120,000.

“I’m confident I’ll meet my goal,” she added. Shimizu said skydiving for a cause – similar to gathering sponsors for a 5K or 10K run – has become common in Europe and England but is still new in the United States. “We’re one of the first non-profits to take part,” she said.

As is often the case with fundraisers, motivation for participation varies from individual to individual – one jumper is the mother of an asthmatic son, one married couple is commemorating a wedding anniversary, and some are just curious about skydiving.

But many, Shimizu said, simply believe in the O24U Program. “Part of our curriculum includes an indoor air quality component that addresses the many triggers for asthma – whether it is dust, chemicals from an industrial process, pollution from cars or household cleaning products,” Etem said. “Kids and families are beginning to get that link.” The program

offers a total of six modules or topics, she said – including the health effects of air pollution, refineries and power plants, and energy from solar and wind – and has become popular everywhere. “The issue is very pertinent for young people and their families,” Etem said.

“There is a lot of interest in the way the environment – Pat Etem impacts these kids’ lives.

The program is vital and we continue to update it to make sure that it is timely as well as vital.” “We feel very strongly that this program is one of the key elements to creating a clean air future in Los Angeles,” Etem said. “It is not just up to us as adults. We know that children are going to take the responsibility for our clean air future, and we feel that this gives them the tools to do that.”

“The communities that the program

Children learn the value of recycling and the important role they can play in protecting the environment for future generations.

serves are highly impacted by poor air quality,” she added.

“It really provides extra enrichment and resources that they would not otherwise have.” The program even includes as much as possible students who have completed the program and come back as focus group facilitators in a “kids to kids” approach.

“The children get inspired to take action and change the world,” Shimizu said, something she believes is important in Los Angeles where more than 6,000 people die each year from illnesses related to air pollution. Etem said as budget allows, the program will be able to expand to other schools, YMCAs, YWCAs and other Boys and Girls Clubs throughout Los Angeles County.

Educators and club directors interested in adding the program are encouraged to call.

For more information or to donate on line over a safe and secure link, visit the web site at www.breathela.org/about/ways-togive/breathe-la-charity-skydiveregistration-and-sponsorship-open, or call Breathe L.A. at (323) 935-8050.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Schenkel, a special correspondent to this newspaper, also operates South Coast Media Services, a 25-year-old public relations consulting firm based in San Dimas.

14 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

Conversion

tech

By Karen E. Weber, Earth Day Writer, Special to Think Environment

aste-By-Rail, conversion technology, additional recycling and more will be needed to replace Los Angeles County’s landfills when they close and closure is sooner than you might think.

The county’s largest landfill, the Puente Hills Landfill, is due to close in just five and half years, on Nov. 1, 2013. Puente Hills is permitted for about 13,000 tons of trash a day. “It takes in one-third of the wastestream of Los Angeles County,” said Coby Skye, associate civil engineer with Los Angeles County Public Works.

When Puente Hills closes, the trash is going to have to go elsewhere. “In 30 years, there will be no landfills open in Los Angeles County,” said Skye. The calculation was based on the current permits of today’s landfills.

The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and Los Angeles County Public Works are already planning for that day.

They are working on Waste-By-Rail projects and conversion technology.

The Sanitation Districts’ Waste-By-Rail project is a key component of waste management in the future. Trash will be loaded into closed containers, which will then be placed on rail cars for transport to the Mesquite Regional Landfill, a fully permitted site in Imperial County. “The Mesquite Regional Landfill is permitted to receive 20,000 tons per day for about 100 years,” said Janet Coke, Waste-By-Rail section head for the Sanitation Districts.

“After we purchased the site in 2002, we began to develop plans to put the infrastructure in place.”

There are many steps involved in creating this complex project — more steps than the planners realized at first. The Mesquite Regional Landfill has to be constructed in Imperial County, the transfer facilities have to be built here and both have to be connected to the United Pacific rail lines along with all the Environmental Impact Reports, permits, contracts and other paperwork involved. But progress continues, building momentum like a freight train gathering speed. The biggest project waiting is the construction of the intermodal yard in City of Industry where the trains will be loaded.

Under the Waste-By-Rail project, trash will trucked to the Puente Hills Landfill area as it is now. Trucks will enter through the same gate, but will head to the Puente Hills Materials Recycling Facility instead.

Completed in 2005, the MRF was the first spike driven in the Waste-By-Rail system.

Trash is sorted there and recyclables are separated from the waste stream and sent to recycling companies. The MRF is important to Waste-By-Rail because there’s no point in sending valuable recyclables to a landfill, especially one as far away as Mesquite. It would be a waste of time, energy and cargo space. “Right now the MRF operates at 500 tons per day. It’s permitted for up to 4,000,” Coke said.

That’s the amount of waste they can

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Arrow Ecology and Engineering’s anaerobic digestion process could create compost from solid waste. Arrow is one of the companies interested in building a demonstration project in L.A. County.

Photo by L.A. County Public Works

take into the MRF for sorting at full-scale operation. Today the residual trash is taken to the Puente Hills Landfill. Under WasteBy-Rail, it will be loaded into railroad containers. The sealed containers will be taken to the intermodal yard to be loaded onto the trash train.

The Sanitation Districts have an option to purchase a piece of property for the intermodal yard from the City of Industry Urban Development Agency. The project is now in the permitting process.

Coke hopes the permitting process will be completed by May. Construction could begin in 2009 to be completed in 2011 or 2012. The Sanitation Districts are also working with the Union Pacific on contracts that will set rates and schedules for the trash trains.

Visible progress is being made on the Imperial County end. “We’re still making progress on the construction of the infrastructure we need to start landfill operations,” Coke said. “The roads and drainage project has been completed, a large water tank has been constructed, and power and communications are being brought to the site.”

Work on the operations facilities is expected to be completed this fall, Coke said. This includes administration offices and maintenance facilities and a water distribution system that will provide water to control dust at the landfill as well as supplying the buildings.

Coke estimated that the Mesquite

The Puente Hills MRF and the planned intermodal yard.

Photo by Sanitation Districts

Regional Landfill itself will be ready in late 2008 and the rail construction and spur line will be completed by the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011. Waste-By-Rail trains will be ready to roll before the Puente Hills Landfill closes.

Waste-By-Rail alone can’t handle all the county’s trash. Coke estimated that the county puts out 40,000 tons of waste per day. A fully operating Mesquite landfill will take only half of that — five, 4,000-ton trains per day. When the Sanitation District’s intermodal yard is complete, it can process 4,000 tons per day through its MRF. The intermodal yard could handle another 4,000 tons per day, but the waste will have to go through a MRF located elsewhere where non-recyclables would be placed in containers.

Conversion technology is a hot new topic in the U.S., though it’s been active in Europe and Japan for years. Under the direction of the Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task Force, of which the Sanitation Districts and Los Angeles County Public Works are members, a demonstration project is being encouraged for the development of conversion technology to prove its feasibility in Southern California.

“We think this is one of the most cutting edge projects in the country,” Skye said.

Conversion technology takes waste and turns it into energy, fuel or some combination of the two without burning it, Skye said.

The Sanitation Districts’ Waste-By-Rail project is a key component of waste management in the future.

He said Public Works is promoting a demonstration project in order to create a pathway for these projects to develop on a private basis.

“It sends a signal to the marketplace that these technologies are viable and not only viable, but profitable,” he said. “We’re developing these demonstration projects with some assistance from the county; then when they get to commercial scale operations, they can operate without subsidies.”

For the demonstration projects, the county had to find companies with resources in Southern California. Skye said the county has identified as many as four companies that have technologies that meet the county’s screening criteria and that are willing to partner with the county in a project.

Skye said one of the companies uses anaerobic digestion and the other three use thermal technologies, either pyrolysis or gasification.

Anaerobic digestion is in common use in U.S. wastewater treatment plants, but using it to treat municipal solid waste will be new. In the process, waste is put together with high concentrations of naturally occurring bacteria in a closed container that has little oxygen in it. The bacteria basically eat the waste and leave behind biogas that can be burned as a fuel and a sludge that can be used as compost or a soil amendment. In solid waste, the organics will come primarily from leftover food and yard waste. “The soil amendment we get from these organics is more marketable,” Skye said. In sewage treatment, the sludge requires further treatment.

Skye said the anaerobic digestion process will begin with a water separation system to remove such things as plastics,

April 21, 2008 EARTH DAY

from waste and turn it into rocks, metals and other non-organic something useful,” Skye said. materials. “We will be able to separate Now that four companies have recyclables from the trash,” he said. He been approved, conversion said the material will be sorted for recycling technology demonstration projects first, but the water separation system will will take their next step toward catch anything that’s missed. “It will be reality. “We will be getting site recovering items that otherwise would have specific proposals from them in May been landfilled.” of this year,” Skye said.

Two generations ago, backyard These will be detailed, specific incineration was the typical way of disposing household trash. People just burned trash in proposals for building projects at specific locations, Skye said. He their back yards, polluting the air and leaving waste ash. Pyrolysis and gasification said all three projects could go forward if they’re good. Projects use heat to break down trash in an entirely that are OK’d different will begin the fashion. The Everything must be reduced, design and systems are permitting not exposed reused and recycled, or shipped phases before to the outside out of the county to remote construction air, do not landfills, or converted, which is can begin. Skye have open a new way of recycling waste. said flames and do optimistically, not burn trash – Coby Skye the projects itself. Instead, could be they heat it finished with testing and ready to operate up to break the bonds between molecules. by 2011.

“This is recycling at a molecular level,” He said the demonstration facilities are Skye said. expected to take in between 300 and 500 In traditional recycling you separate tons of trash a day. “A minimum of 100 glass from paper, Skye said. In these tons a day and no more than 1,000 tons a thermal processes, you separate carbon day,” he said. This is a drop in the bucket, and hydrogen from oxygen. Then you can but Public Works hopes that the combine the carbon and hydrogen to development of the demonstration projects create fuel. will encourage larger projects to get started.

He said the thermal systems are similar.

“We hope by 2015 there will be a few Pyrolysis uses a lower temperature and thousand tons per day capacity in Los eliminates oxygen almost entirely.

Angeles County,” Skye said.

Gasification uses pure oxygen to break But a few thousand tons per day will down material at a higher temperature, Skye only meet part of the county’s needs. said. In both cases, as in all conversion Landfills will still be needed. The Sanitation technologies, “You pull out components

Paper or Plastic for your Groceries?

Neither!

Say No to Single-Use, and Yes to Reusable Bags! n celebration of Earth Day 2008, on April 21st and 22nd the City of Los Angeles is partnering with grocers such as Albertsons, Food 4 Less, Henry’s Farmers Market, Valu Plus Food Warehouse, El Super, Ralphs, Smart & Final, and Vons to distribute 50,000 FREE reusable bags at 45 stores throughout the City!

The City wants to encourage reusable bags as the environmentally preferred choice, to move away from single use plastic or paper bags.

This is a form of waste prevention, in other words, if you never get a single-use bag, global warming emissions are saved from the manufacture, collection and recycling or disposal of these bags.

You would never see them blowing on the streets or clogging our storm drains if all residents utilized reusable bags for their groceries each week!

These sturdy, handsome bags are made of 100% recycled plastic bottles, ‘closing the loop’ on recycling, and are also manufactured exclusively in the United States. Stay tuned for the list of participating stores, and you can receive a FREE reusable bag.

The City thanks our partners for their commitment to improving the awareness of reusable bags as the environmentally preferred choice.

Remember, if everyone changes only a few habits for the better, it will improve the environment for all!

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LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS 15

Mesquite Landfill site.

Photo by Sanitation Districts

Districts are working hard to implement the Waste-by-Rail project and utilize their new landfill in Imperial County.

Conversion technologies will face many of the same problems as the Waste-by-Rail projects did, Coke said. It may be as difficult to find a site for a conversion project as it is to find a site for a new landfill. And conversion technology projects are just getting started.

“None of these systems are in place.

Waste-By-Rail has been planned over 20 years,” Coke said. “It has the ability to handle significant quantities of waste in the near term.”

She added that the Mesquite landfill will have a form of conversion technology itself.

International Environmental Solutions offers a pyrolysis system. IES is one of the companies interested in building a demonstration project here..

Photo by L.A. County Public Works

The Sanitation Districts’ landfills collect landfill gas and use it to generate electricity.

Waste-By-Rail, conversion technologies, recycling and more will be needed to meet the county’s waste disposal needs in the future. “We have to keep up with the closing landfills,” Coke said. “We have to make sure there’s some way to manage our waste.”

Skye said we need to think about what happens when the huge resource of local landfills is no longer available and we have to take our trash somewhere else. “Even with conversion technology going full speed and Waste-By-Rail, we will still be exporting waste out of L.A. County at significant cost,” Skye said.

“Everything must be reduced, reused and recycled, or shipped out of the county to remote landfills, or converted, which is a new way of recycling waste. We clearly won’t have enough facilities up and running five years from now, but we want to soften the blow. We need to take responsibility for our waste. There are so many reasons to do it,” he said.

All these projects will create new jobs.

It’s one of the reasons that Imperial County has supported the Mesquite landfill. Skye said conversion projects will create hightech, private sector, local jobs.

“You can’t export them to China,” he said. Conversion technologies could also reduce pollution, including greenhouse gases, produce fuel and energy and reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, Skye said. “It meets long-term, renewable energy goals,” he said.

Coke said Waste-By-Rail will be the first piece of the waste disposal puzzle, then everyone will see how conversion technologies fit in. “There’s plenty of trash to go around,” she said.

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16 LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

EARTH DAY April 21, 2008

Recycling Ambassadors!

Who are those guys in blue shirts sorting through all the black, green and blue containers on your street and why are they doing it? hat’s a great question! The Bureau of will fill up twice as fast as the black container.

Sanitation is proud to announce its new Right now, throughout our city Recycling Ambassador Program neighborhoods, we discard over “400 tons” of comprised of Recycling Ambassadors recyclable material into our household black who will help us all improve our recycling habits trash containers every single day. This is 400 with the final goal of reducing the amount of tons of recyclable material that, instead of being waste entering landfills. Recycling recycled, is transported to a landfill where the Ambassadors will now be available to provide City (and we all) pay to have it buried. That’s residents with tips on recycling and reuse and 800,000 pounds per day at a cost of around to help train residents on the proper use of all $12,000.00 per day – to bury recyclable three containers: black, blue and green. material that could otherwise be re-used! Now, The Bureau of Sanitation works hard to find if each and everyone of us were to do our part alternatives and by correctly sorting solutions to reduce through our trash, then this the amount of waste 400 tons a day would not The city now diverts over 60% of be transported to a landfill entering landfills. its waste from landfills - the These include but would be sold to a alternative recycler and would bring in highest diversion rate in the technologies, entire country thanks to the great $10,000.00 per day in programs to reduce effort made by our City residents. recycling revenue. That’s a the amount of whopping $22,000.00 “per packaging, the reuse day” turn around! of materials and Waste characterization increased recycling. studies have identified the following Since the inception of the Blue Recycling recyclable material in black Container Program, the city now diverts over containers or bins: newspapers, 60% of its waste from landfills - the highest magazines, envelopes, plastic, diversion rate in the entire country thanks to the glass, metals, yard trimmings metal great effort made by our City residents. Still, and plastic hangers and plastic the City needs your help to reach its goal of bags. diverting 70% of waste from landfills by the This is where Recycling year 2015 – a goal set by our Mayor Antonio Ambassadors come in. In addition Villaraigosa for all of us. A great place to start is to identifying what materials are in your own home by placing a separate recyclable in your black bins, recycling container inside your home right next Ambassadors will also focus on to your regular trash container. You’ll find, as removing large amounts of nonmany have, that if you take the time to separate recyclable materials that may have trash inside your home, your recycling container been incorrectly placed in blue

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recycling containers and green yard-trimming containers. This material “contaminates” the other recyclable material and includes such items as tires, household trash, dirt, construction materials, diapers, greasy/food stained paper, hoses, painted or stained wood, and ceramics, which all belong in the black container.

So, as you can see, our Recycling Ambassadors have a big job on their hands.

You will see them in neighborhoods throughout the city, checking containers to make sure they are used properly and leaving notes where improvements are needed. You will see them handing out information and educational material. They will be able to answer your questions and will be happy to discuss

collection issues with residents as they collect field data and track their findings.

Recycling Ambassadors will meet with community groups and neighborhood councils to present and discuss their findings and to propose possible solutions.

So if you happen to see one of our blueshirted Ambassadors in your neighborhood, do stop and say hello and ask what they’ve found in your bins!