Curbside Recycling a Big Success
Paramount began a citywide automated trash collection and recycling program last November, with three containers for trash, recyclables and greenwaste.
The idea behind the new system was to divert trash tonnage from state landfills as dictated by California law, keep litter off neighborhood streets, keep parkways free of clutter on trash days, and free up more parking spaces that were formerly taken up when multiple cans were placed on the street.
The figures on how much trash was diverted from landfills that first month are in, and the difference is immense.
Prior to the curbside program, residents were recycling about two tons of waste per month. In November, residents recycled 128 tons of waste. The yard waste recycling figures have improved drastically, as well. Under the old manual collection program, residents recycled 150 tons of yard waste per month. During this past November (with the larger automated green barrels), residents recycled 237 tons of yard waste.
The City thanks everyone in town for your patience and help during the switch over to the new system. Congratulations are also due for the overwhelmingly positive results.
Other Recycling Options
Free E-Waste Pickup
The City also has a curbside “e-waste” collection program for items such as computers, televisions, microwaves, cell phones and stereos. The free collection service is for single-family homes, multifamily housing and mobile home parks. To schedule a pick up, call Cal-Met at (562) 634-8372 at least one day before your normal trash day.. Then, on trash day, place the e-waste at your curbside to be hauled away.
Large-Item Trash Pickup
For oversized items like furniture or appliances that you want to toss but can’t fit in a regular trash container, call Cal-Met at (562) 634-5420 the day before your normal pickup and tell them you have bulky items to go. Then place them out with your trash on the curb. Things like lumber, concrete, auto parts, and toxins such as paint and used motor oil cannot be removed in this way. Cost: Free (for residences); $15 (for commercial pickup).
Household Hazardous Waste
For toxic materials that can’t be thrown in the trash or collected by Cal-Met from the home, Los Angeles County holds collection events throughout the year at various locations and has five permanent collection sites. Products such as motor oil, paint, turpentine, pesticides and herbicides, household and car batteries, and acid-based cleansers cannot be poured down the drain or tossed in the garbage. To find a full list of what is acceptable, and where the locations are, call 1 (888) CLEAN-LA (1-888-253-2652) or visit http://www.lacsd.org or www.888CleanLA.com.
Used Motor Oil
Used motor oil can also be dropped off at five centers in Paramount, as well as more than 600 recycling centers throughout Los Angeles County. Call (888) CLEAN-LA to find out where. Cost: Free. For home curbside collection (also taking used car filters), call Curbside, Inc. at 1 (800) HHWPKUP. Cost: Free.
Recycling Centers
Apart from the programs and locations already mentioned here, there are recycling centers in or near Paramount that will accept and sometimes pay for recyclable items.
D&T Recycling
14113 Garfield Ave., Paramount, (562) 531-4990.
Accepts aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, scrap metal.
PR&R
7230 Petterson Lane, Paramount, (562) 602-6505.
Accepts newspaper and cardboard, as well as “e-waste” such as computers, monitors, televisions and other types of electronics.
Bellflower Recycling Center
17326 S. Woodruff, Bellflower, (562) 804-7270.
Accepts aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, some office paper, some scrap metal.
Canco Recycling
2725 South St., Long Beach, (562) 602-0622.
Accepts aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, some office paper, some scrap metal.