Anaheim : Disposal Firm Faces Air Quality Hearing

Anaheim Disposal Co. is facing an Air Quality Management District hearing this week because several residents and workers at neighboring businesses have complained of foul odors and constant dust coming from the trash site.

Spokesman Milt Kohut said the district has received about 50 complaints, beginning about a year ago, when the company began its garbage-disposal operations.

The firm, a trash-transfer facility on Anaheim’s east side, services city businesses and hotels. Spokesmen for the company could not be reached for comment.

The board hearing, which started Wednesday, is being conducted at regional headquarters in El Monte. The board is expected to issue an “abatement order” next month, requiring the company to clean up its operations.

John Roche, Anaheim’s director of maintenance, blamed the odor problems on the firm’s not completely cleaning out the trash pits every day after trucks deposit waste.

“They (the company) have admitted that,” he said. “And a lot of the time, trash is left sitting in the pits over the weekends and smells really bad come Monday.”

Roche added that the dust problem is caused by recycling activities at the facility. “If the company wants to continue recycling activities on a large scale, they will probably have to enclose that operation and install vents to control the stirring of dust,” Roche said.