SUN VALLEY : East Valley Gets Recycling Extension

In an effort to make east San Fernando Valley’s green refuse more green , Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs has announced that residents will have an extra two weeks to separate yard trimmings from their other trash.

“Many residents in my district are very concerned they will not have enough room for their regular refuse when their green container starts being used for yard trimmings only,” the councilman said.

The extension was granted to allow the city to deliver the more extra-capacity black containers--for non-recyclable refuse only--to more of the residents who have requested them. The Bureau of Sanitation also is opening the East Valley Collection Yard on Saturdays for residents to pick up the containers. That yard, at 9701 San Fernando Road, Sun Valley, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m..

In compliance with the expansion of the city’s recycling program into the East Valley, residents must begin separating their yard trimmings from their non-recyclable refuse the last week in April. Under the new provisions, yard trimmings only may go into the green refuse containers, which many residents now use for the overflow of household garbage.

Though Wachs promises to monitor the program’s expansion to ensure residents receive the time and supplies they need to comply, sanitation officials ask that residents who can do so, begin separating their refuse as soon as possible.

When the green refuse is properly separated into the green containers, it is recycled by the city as compost, rather than being trucked to a landfill along with the non-recyclables.