Drive-Thru Drop Site Set for Hazardous Waste

If your garage or storage space has become a dump site for hazardous waste, the city of Los Angeles is offering a safe way to dispose of it.

County residents can drive up to the Hazmobile at Cal State North

ridge and drop off leftover paint products, motor oil, fertilizers, car and flashlight batteries, pool cleaners and other materials. It will be in the parking lot at Lindley Avenue and Lassen Street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 22-24.

“People should have the items in their trunk or the back of a truck and remain in their car. Have the items ready to be removed,” said city Department of Water and Power spokesman Richard French. “Get there early and allow time. We try to make it as easy and convenient for them as possible because we try to encourage them to come.”

The service is free. When possible, collected materials are recycled.

The collections are exclusively for disposal of household chemicals labeled toxic, flammable, corrosive, irritant or poisonous. The Hazmobile does not accept ammunition or firearms, radioactive material, biological waste or tires.

Two collections in 1998 drew a total of 2,580 cars to the Northridge drop-off.

“Northridge is one of our strongest venues,” French said. “We love Northridge and the West Valley in general. We really get a high participant level for the outlet there.”

The Hazmobile is co-sponsored by the city’s Bureau of Sanitation and the Department of Public Works, and funded by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

Disposal of household chemicals in trash, storm drains or sewers damages the environment and is against the law. Illegal dumping carries a minimum fine of $5,000 per day per violation, or imprisonment.