Bellflower : Committee Formed on Waste-to-Energy Idea

The Bellflower City Council has established a two-man council committee to study the feasibility of building a waste-to-energy plant for local refuse “as a way to help reduce the solid-waste crisis,” city officials said.

Councilmen William Pendleton and Randy Bomgaars will make up the new committee, which also will study the possibility of forming a joint powers authority with officials from surrounding communities.

“The council thought the city could participate in reducing the trash crisis around the country,” city spokesman Gonzalvo M. Vasquez said. “They want to do their part.”

A proposed waste-to-energy plant, which would be patterned after a facility in Commerce, would generate electricity by burning municipal trash.

A recycling center, which would collect recyclable paper, cans and bottles also will be considered by the committee, which was formed at Monday’s council meeting, said Vasquez, who presented the idea to the council at the last council meeting.