Curbside Recycling Program Is Expanded

Los Angeles County expanded its voluntary curbside recycling program on Monday to include parts of Topanga Canyon and Calabasas.

The county now recycles about 20% of its trash through pilot programs in parts of the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles, county Public Works Director Thomas A. Tidemanson said. The state has mandated that by 1995 all counties must recycle half of their trash.

Whether they use the recycling service or not, county residents will have to pay between $1.50 and $1.75 a month extra for the curbside pickup of aluminum cans, newspapers, and glass and plastic bottles, Tidemanson said. He said 45-gallon, yellow plastic garbage cans will be provided by the private garbage companies that serve the areas. The companies are Hillside Rubbish Co. and HBJJ Co.

The Topanga Canyon area where recycling pickup will start this week stretches from around Mulholland Drive south along both sides of Topanga Canyon Boulevard to just past the Old Topanga Canyon Road intersection. Only a small neighborhood in the easternmost corner of Calabasas, north of Mulholland Highway and east of Old Topanga Canyon Road, will be served. The recycling pickup will occur on the regularly scheduled garbage collection day.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who joined Supervisor Deane Dana to announce the expansion at a news conference Monday morning, said the new city of Calabasas supports the program and wants to extend it throughout the area.