Doing the Right Thing With Hazardous Waste

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