City Closes Problematic Recycling Facility

Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo announced Friday that the city has shut down a recycling center that officials maintained was operating illegally.

The city said the center had a building permit but had not received the conditional-use permit needed to operate such a business.

The center is next to several homes near Carlin Street and Adams Boulevard. Residents in the area have long complained that the facility attracted transients and was used for purposes other than recycling.

Delgadillo announced the closure in front of the center Friday, as about 40 residents stood by in support.

The owner of the facility could not be reached for comment.

Stacey Anthony, a neighborhood prosecutor with the city attorney’s office, said the recycling center was used for a variety of activities that should not have been allowed.

“They were spray-painting vehicles out in the open next to the single-family residence,” Anthony said. “This was supposed to be a bottles-cans recycling. We’ve got batteries here; we’ve got scooters; we’ve got scrap metal.”

Delgadillo said his office also looked into allegations that the recycling center gave local transients coupons to a nearby liquor store instead of cash for recyclables.

Officials said they did not have enough evidence, however, to bring any charges related to that claim.

The liquor store owner, Steve Kang, said he did accept the coupons through a deal he had with the recycling center owner because he wanted to invite more people to shop at his store.

But Kang said he would cash out the coupons for their value if transients asked for it.

Authorities said Kang is not considered at fault in the matter.