Movie-Set Recycler Wins Waste Industry’s Oscar

Recycling company Looney Bins will be honored at an event today for its efforts to reuse and recycle surplus materials from Hollywood sets.

The Sun Valley-based recycler will receive the CalMAX Connection of the Year Award for customer service and the amount of materials recycled this year.

The award is sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, an agency that manages about 56 million tons of the state’s solid waste annually. The award is the top honor a recycling company can receive from the state, said Roni Java, a spokeswoman for the Integrated Waste Management Board.

“Looney Bins is keeping tons of trash out of our landfills that would otherwise be hauled off to the dump,” Java said. “The company wins, the environment wins, everybody wins.”

Looney Bins found uses for wood, metals, plastics and other leftover materials on Hollywood sets by turning them into wooden pallets, building materials and planter boxes. The company also found uses for more than 600 tons of wood discarded by Sony Pictures Studios, Java said.

Former state Sen. David Roberti, a member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board, and representatives from Sony Pictures Studios will be on hand.

The event, which will include a free barbecue and tour, will begin at 11 a.m. at the recycling facility, 11616 1/2 Sheldon St., Sun Valley.