Recycling Bin Yields Body

The body of a Buena Park man was discovered in a recycling bin Thursday morning by a worker preparing to toss paper into the receptacle.

Police and coroner’s officials estimate that the man, who was about 35, had been dead at least three days before the grisly discovery.

He suffered slash wounds to his neck and what appeared to be stab wounds to his back, Lt. Tony Kelly said.

Police did not release his name pending notification of relatives.

David Gardner, the owner of Gardner Lithograph in the 8300 block of Commonwealth Avenue, said he called police after he and an employee saw the body in the large bin, used to collect the company’s paper waste for recycling.

The bin, which is about 25 feet long and 8 feet deep, had not been emptied in 10 days, Gardner said.

A worker for the company that buys the waste arrived about 9 a.m. to haul off the paper.

While he was adding more paper to the bin from the lithograph company, he climbed inside for a moment.

“He saw a boot under the paper,” Gardner said. “At first he thought it was a Halloween costume. Then he reached down and pulled on it and realized it wasn’t.”