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Lakewood residents can recycle old newspapers and other discards through the city's network of neighborhood drop off centers. We’ve made low-cost composters available for residents who want to recycle their greenwaste. And, we’ve expanded opportunities for residents to recycle garden greenwaste, household hazardous waste, and even used home electronics.
We've also expanded our use of the CR & R materials recovery facility (MRF) in Stanton to pull more recyclables from the city's residential waste stream. The MRF is far more environmentally friendly than the costlier alternative – a curbside collection program involving another fleet of large collection vehicles on city streets. Curbside programs depend on everyone removing half of their discards as “marketable” recyclables, which, unfortunately, very rarely occurs according to recent news reports. Lakewood continues to process the remainder of residential trash pickups by incineration at the Long Beach waste-to-energy plant on Terminal Island. There, Lakewood's trash is turned into another scarce resource - electricity. The plant generates 35 megawatts a day, sufficient to meet the electrical needs of 35,000 homes. These lifestyle habits and residential waste recycling through materials recovery have had significant environmental results. Bigger, better, newer BZ Disposal, the city’s trash collection contractor, is rolling out a new fleet of vehicles. The big, blue trucks carry an environmental message. The first in a series of “billboard” signs on the sides of the trucks will display the city’s “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” message. Future signs will advise residents about litter prevention, used oil recycling, and other city-sponsored environmental programs. In other environmental news, the city council has adopted a new storm water runoff ordinance that will reduce the amount of unwanted contamination from reaching storm drains, the regional flood control system, and beaches. The new ordinance, required under the Storm Water Discharge Permit issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, will affect future development and redevelopment projects by imposing “best management practices” on builders and property managers. Lakewood is already implementing these “best management” requirements for development projects like the construction of the new Target and Kohl’s department stores. Click here to find out more about the new storm water mitigation ordinance. http://www.lakewoodcity.org/council/council_docs_ordinances/08_28_02_story_storm_water.html
Let’s talk trash About half of the city’s trash is converted into electrical energy at the transformation facility called SERRF located on Terminal Island. The other half of the city’s trash is taken to the CR & R materials recovery facility in Stanton, where 50 percent of it is recycled. By changing habits and lifestyles, Lakewood residents are doing their part to reduce the amount of waste they generate and because of this, Lakewood continues to meet a state-mandated goal of diverting trash from landfills. Using the formula adopted by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (which does not account for all the Lakewood trash that is transformed at the SERRF plant), Lakewood keeps more than 42 percent of its trash out of county-operated landfills. The State’s Integrated Waste Management Act set a goal for all cities and counties. Lakewood’s goal for year 2000 was 42 percent diversion of all waste. Lakewood has met or exceeded its commitments to establish new programs, including sending a portion of its residential waste to the materials recovery facility in Stanton, the Lakewood greenwaste drop-off program, and new city policies regarding construction and demolition debris recycling, as well as school programs and other public education outreach efforts. As part of Lakewood’s R3 program, Lakewood offers more than two dozen drop-off recycling centers, special collection programs for businesses and multi-family residential units, and online advice on how to reuse or recycle just about anything you might otherwise throw away. So, get ready to mark your calendar! Here is a look at some of the many upcoming programs and events. To see the most recent Lakewood Earthday “report card” with details of these programs and other environmentally responsible Lakewood efforts.. Two green thumbs-up for greenwaste! Tired of yard trimmings, branches, and grass clippings by the ton? Lakewood’s successful greenwaste program is one way to help you and the environment. Since its debut in July 2001, the greenwaste recycling program has collected nearly 100 tons of yard debris. The idea is to keep the greenwaste out of the regular trash and reuse the materials as daily landfill cover. The greenwaste recycling program accepts grass clippings (in bags or tarps that can be emptied into the bin), tree and shrub trimmings, and other landscape debris that are fully biodegradable. Tree trimmings must be cut down to six-foot lengths. Branches cannot be thicker than four inches. The greenwaste program cannot accept yucca plants or other cacti, palm fronds, banana leaves or banana plants, logs or tree stumps, the wire or plastic twine around bundles, dirt, rocks, concrete, or construction debris of any sort. Because this is a free program, proof of Lakewood residency is needed (a city water or trash bill or driver's license is acceptable). Gardeners who service Lakewood clients also may participate. Fall greenwaste recycling events will continue on two Saturdays each month through November at two convenient locations: Bloomfield Park or at the city water yard from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Current Greenwaste Events Saturday, 9/28/02
Greenwaste Drop-off Event Bloomfield
Park Water
Maintenance Office For more information call the Lakewood Public Works Department at 866-9771, extension 2500, or click to http://www.lakewoodcity.org/r3 Manage your old, outdated, and non-working electronics the right way! Residents can do their part in helping the environment and meeting state mandated hazardous waste rules when they get rid of TV sets and computer monitors. Under new state regulations, these aren’t just junk anymore, they’re hazardous waste that needs special handling. Take computer monitors and TV sets – and other home electronics – to the Lakewood E-Waste Collection Day on Saturday, September 21, and earn a five percent discount on new purchases at Circuit City Lakewood. The roundup is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Circuit City parking lot adjacent to the Home Depot in Lakewood Center. Items NOT accepted on Lakewood E-Waste Collection Day include furniture, refrigerators and other appliances, microwaves or ovens, batteries, computer software, paper, and household hazardous waste. For more information, call Lakewood Public Works at 866-9771, extension 2500. To be informed about future e-waste collection dates, click here and search on "greenwaste" or "electronics." On the web: City of Lakewood
Calendar: Household hazardous waste needs special handling, and Lakewood has it! Like oil and water, hazardous waste and the environment don’t mix. It is illegal to put household hazardous waste in the trash or to pour paint or pesticides down the drains in your home. Instead, store house and yard toxics in their original containers away from food, pets, and children, and wait for the next, free, county-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste Roundup.
In general, the roundup can accept 15 gallons of liquid or 125 pounds of discards per vehicle. An R3 way to end the holidays! The holiday season will be here before you know it and your Christmas tree has uses after the holiday season, too. Lakewood’s Christmas tree recycling program is a great, environmental way to dispose of your evergreen. Christmas trees are biodegradable. The trunk and branches can be chipped and used as mulch for gardens, parks, used on woodland trails to help prevent erosion, or in animal stalls. The mulch provides a protect barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive. Collection begins right after Christmas and continues through the first week of January. The tree should not be in a bag, have any ornaments, or metal stand attached. Trees over eight feet tall must be cut in half. Place your tree at the curb on the same day as your trash pick-up (which may be affected by the holiday collection schedule). Recycle in your own neighborhood at a Lakewood R3 center near you! There are recycling opportunities within a half-mile of every Lakewood neighborhood. Many collection centers are located at supermarkets, making it easy to shop and drop off those recyclables at the same destination. From aluminum cans to overstuffed couches, Lakewood has ways of allowing you to practice using the 3R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle! (Click here for a R3 collection center nearest you: lakewoodcity.org/r3e/images/Rec_gde.pdf
Newspaper recycling bin locations:
Lakewood families also can contribute to a greener city and environment by participating every day in waste prevention and recycling efforts. The most important thing residents can do is to think about how to reduce the amount of waste they generate, and then try to change their habits and lifestyles. Some things to think about: buy larger quantities of regularly used items (reducing packaging waste), cancel junk mail and other unsolicited advertising, reuse water bottles and other beverage containers, return hangers and plastic covers to the dry cleaner, and reuse plastic or paper bags at the store or at home. For more recycling advice, go to http://www.lakewoodcity.org/r3
Grasscycling saves you work and cuts greenwaste! Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. It is obvious how this can save landfill space, but there are additional benefits. The clippings quickly decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. Grasscycling also reduces mowing time and cuts disposal costs. According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, too many people treat their lawn like a crop: they water and fertilize their lawns to encourage luxuriant growth. The harvested crop (those grass clippings) is bagged and transported to a landfill. What a waste! Proper mowing is required for successful grasscycling. It is best to cut grass when the surface is dry (no drops of moisture on the grass) and with sharpened mower blades. Follow the "1/3 rule:" mow the lawn often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade is removed in any one mowing. Proper mowing will produce short clippings that will not cover up the grass surface. (You may have to cut the lawn more frequently, or double cut, when the lawn is growing fast, such as in the spring, but much less when the turf is growing slowly. Additionally, raising the mowing height in the summer encourages deeper roots and protects grass from drought and heat damage.) You can grasscycle with almost any mower. The collection bag can be removed to allow clippings to drop on the lawn. However, if your mower does not have a safety flap covering the opening where the bag fits into the chute, or a plug for the chute, contact your local retailer to purchase a retrofit kit. A bit of experimentation might be needed to keep clippings from clumping when using a conventional mower. Additionally, most lawnmower manufacturers have developed mulching or recycling mowers which cut grass blades into small pieces and force them into the turf. Mulching or recycling mowers make grasscycling easy. Studies have shown that seasonal mowing time can be reduced by 50 percent or more since the bagging and disposal of clippings is eliminated. You’ve got our number! For information on recycling opportunities in Lakewood, call the R3 coordinator at 866-9771, extension 2510. For help with trash collection questions, call a Lakewood Service Request Representative at 866-9771, extension 2140. For help with trash billing, call the Finance Department at 866-9771, extension 2630. Recycling and household hazardous waste Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Waste Management Division 888-CLEAN-LA Refuse collection BZ Disposal Service 531-3054 Dumpster/roll-off bin rental BZ Disposal Service 531-3054 Illegal dumping/discharge into storm drains Los Angeles County, Department of Public Works/Storm Water Discharge Program 800-303-0003 Clogged storm drain catch basins Department of Public Works 866-9771, extension 2500 Hazardous materials spills Department of Public Works 866-9771, extension 2500 State recycling center information California Integrated Waste Management Board 800-CLEAN-UP Your R3 guide to recycling sites and programs California Integrated Waste Management Board The CIWMB site is filled with detailed guides to recycling everything that can be recycled — from old bottles to old tires (and just about anything in between). Brimming with no-nonsense advice, clear instructions, and helpful tips, the CIWMB site is the place to go before you buy, throw away anything, or begin to recycle. Lakewood Online Lakewood’s site expands this special edition of the city newsletter and offers up-to-date guidance on household hazardous waste roundups, specialized recycling projects (Christmas trees and old computers), and workshops for budding composters. Lakewood Online’s recycling pages also offer links to other recycling information resources: Yard waste programs http://www.smartgardening.com/ Household hazardous waste roundups Department of Conservation Division of Recycling Certified used oil collection centers http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/UsedOil/ American Plastics Council http://www.plasticsresource.com/ Recycling At Work Program http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/recycle EPA Waste Wise Program Ending junk mail |
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Lakewood, California -
Lakewood
City Hall
5050 Clark Avenue - Lakewood, CA - 90712
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