Doing the Right Thing With Hazardous Waste
- Share via
We live in Venice. When we cleaned out our garage, we needed to dispose of some old, half-full paint cans. So we went to the Santa Monica household toxic waste center, where the attendant told us non-residents could not use the Santa Monica facility. He gave us a telephone contact list for the city of Los Angeles hazardous waste.
When we called the hot line, we were informed that the city of L.A. had no center (permanent or temporary) in our vicinity where we could bring the paint cans. In fact, we were advised that the nearest “roundup” was nearly 20 miles away in Van Nuys, the following weekend.
Is it any wonder people throw their toxic waste (such as paint, thinner and varnish) in the regular trash? Or pour it down their sink drains? How can a city the size of Los Angeles not provide drop-off centers for the residents who care enough about the environment and its future, and are willing to dispose of waste properly?
Los Angeles should follow the fine example of Santa Monica.
CHRISTINE MITGES
and ERIC BAUM
Venice
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Tom Girardi was a legal legend—until he was found guilty of stealing millions from his own clients. Host Madison McGhee and pop culture commentator Kiki Monique unpack how his downfall became a Real Housewives scandal, and what Erika Jayne may or may not have known. Plus, L.A. Times reporter Harriet Ryan joins to share how she helped bring Girardi’s crimes to light.
Sammy Roth visits America’s second-largest nuclear plant, Arizona’s Palo Verde Generating Station, and sits down with three experts to explore the pros and cons of atomic energy.
