SYLMAR : Temporary Dump Receives Heavy Use
A city cleanup crew was digging out from a huge pile of tires, sofas, lamps and leaves Tuesday after an overwhelming response to a temporary dump site set up last weekend in Sylmar to keep residents from dumping trash on the streets or keeping it at their homes.
Los Angeles officials originally had planned to keep the site open for one day. But residents filled one of the four bins in the first 10 minutes Saturday, the roundup was extended through Sunday and bins were replaced with dump trucks. In all, more than 250 residents dumped junk at the site on San Fernando Road near Polk Street.
Officials advertised the roundup of trash that can’t be left for curbside pickup by sending 300 flyers to homes from Polk Street to Hubbard Street and from Herrick Avenue to San Fernando Road, said David Mays, chief deputy to City Councilman Ernani Bernardi.
“We pinpointed the area because we knew there was a problem,” Mays said. A lack of affordable public dumps precipitated the reaction by residents, he said.
“Our main fear is that what we saw out there today could become the norm unless we make it easier and more affordable for people to get rid of their trash and debris,” Mays said Tuesday.
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