Garcia Recycling Center vacates site after citation

COSTA MESA — After more than 20 years operating in Costa Mesa, the Garcia Recycling Center on 19^th Street was given its first citation Monday for still being there.

The next day, the family-owned business ceased operations and vacated the site, city officials said.

The city mailed out a $150 civil citation to the recycling center for continuing to operate in the city, officials said Wednesday. The citation was issued because the Garcia Recycling Center, the largest recycling center in Costa Mesa, was ordered by the City Council to shut down by Feb. 14 after a few residents complained about the business.

The center was at 759 W. 19^th Street for more than 20 years and didn’t have any citations, code violations or complaints against it until last fall when a few people spoke up and the city acted. The council suggested that if owner Jessie Garcia relocated his business away from where homeless congregate and dealt with the noise and smells, he could stay at the 19^th Street location until they were ready to move.

Council members back-tracked on that offer earlier this month and ordered the business closed by Monday. Attorneys for Garcia Recycling were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

— Joseph Serna