Trash Plan Is Success

The voluntary trash recycling program in Rancho Palos Verdes has been a success--perhaps too much of a success.

Participation in the 6,100-home area where recycling started July 1 has been so great that the trash hauler has been unable to collect everything left at the curb on the weekly collection days. As a result, some trash is picked up the next day or the following week.

“We were not expecting such an overwhelming response,” said city spokeswoman Cari E. Cooper. She said the city has received 25 to 30 calls from people wondering why their discarded aluminum cans, newspapers and bottles were not picked up on their collection day. She said only one caller was angry and refused to participate in the program.

Waste Management of California, the city-franchised hauler in the area where recycling is under way, said about 2,600 homes are participating.

“We’re pleasantly surprised,” sales manager Craig Young said. The company operates one recycling truck and will add another by Oct. 1 to handle the volume.

Recycling has led to scavenging, mainly of newspapers and aluminum, and Cooper said four license plate numbers of scavengers’ cars have been reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lomita station, which polices Rancho Palos Verdes. Scavenging is illegal under a city ordinance. Young said scavenging has not cut significantly into the volume of materials collected.

The Rancho Palos Verdes program encompasses Eastview, Miraleste and all areas south of Crest Road except Portuguese Bend. About half of the city’s single-family homes are in the area.