City of La Verne www.ci.la-verne.ca.us 909-596-8744 Management San Gabriel/Pomona Valley www.wm.com ® 909-599-1274 Fall 2013 Goodbye to Puente Hills Keep the rate climbing Puente Hills Landfill, one The national rate has increased of the country’s largest every year since 1980 and currently sits just landfills, will discontinue above 34%. In California, we’re doing even operations on October 31, better—about 65% of our discards never see 2013 with 127,000 tons a landfill. In order to keep up these trends, of waste on its land. Plans once a year America Recycles Day strives for a smooth transition to motivate more recycling and increase have been in the works for education efforts. years, and no major changes Keeping the recycling effort moving to residents’ collection comes from continuing to reduce, , and services will be necessary. recycle. Recycling is the easiest thing we can Puente Hills has been in operation since 1957 and do 365 days a year to save energy, conserve is home to the world’s natural resources, and create green jobs. Take largest “gas-to-energy” the pledge for America Recycles Day and project. After closure, the commit to taking action. First, “precycle” landfill will continue to be by selecting locally recyclable products and monitored, and energy will be harvested from in La Verne. Early in 2014, recyclable materials packages when you shop. Then, collect clean above 28% of plastic milk jugs. Think about waste for several more years. will also be delivered to this facility for sorting. recyclable materials and deliver them to the something you might not normally recycle, For the City of La Verne, the transition Once in full operation, the MRF will be able to curb or a drop-off center for processing. like cell phones or shampoo bottles, and make away from Puente Hills has been occurring over process up to 800 tons of recyclables and 500 Finally, look for recycled-content products an effort to increase the recovery of that item. the past several years. Since 2008, La Verne’s tons of green waste per day. The transfer station by checking for terms like “post-consumer Go to www.americarecyclesday.org to trash has gone to a transfer station and then will be able to manage as much as 2,500 tons of recycled content” on the tag or packaging of learn more about recycling and to take the trash per day. headed to ’s El Sobrante the items you purchase. pledge. Landfill in Corona. However, green waste The trash that comes into the Azusa MRF/ When you pledge this year, you have the Transfer Station is loaded into semi-trailers, If you have questions about what, how, continued to go to Puente Hills where it was option of choosing one item that you’ll recycle or where to recycle locally, please contact used to cover the trash at the end of each day. which then head to the El Sobrante Landfill during evening hours to reduce congestion on more than you have in the past. Nationwide, La Verne Customer Service at (909) 596-8744 As the closure grew near, Waste Americans recycle over 72% of paper, but just or visit www.ci.la-verne.ca.us. Management took action, making plans for a area roadways. Waste Management owns and state of the art materials recovery facility (MRF) operates the El Sobrante Landfill, which can and transfer station in the City of Azusa. The accept up to 70,000 tons of trash per week and facility opened recently and has begun handling has a projected life span of 35-40 more years. trash and green waste, including that collected The landfill sits on 688 acres, 470 of which are Dispose of E-Waste permitted for trash handling and disposal. Green waste will also go to this facility where it will be processed before being delivered the Right Way to facilities in Kern, Ventura, and © iStockphoto.com | Elja Riverside counties for beneficial Bonita High School is hosting use. The El Sobrante Landfill has a free, one-day electronic an excellent record in protecting event on the environment, as well as worker Saturday, October 12, from health and safety. In addition, the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event landfill’s gas-to-energy facility will be held at Bonita High turns methane, which is emitted School, located at 3102 as waste decomposes, into 3.84 “D” Street (in the small megawatts of electricity each year. Puente Hills may be closing, administration parking lot), but La Verne’s discards are on the and will help residents dispose road to recovery. of old electronic equipment the right way. It’s easy to participate in this event. The entire process only takes a few Smart Gardening Program Available minutes, and you never have to leave your car. For the last several to La Verne Residents years, it has been illegal to at the October event. However, The Smart Gardening Program sponsored by dispose of electronics in the trash. Proper residents will have the Los Angeles County provides FREE workshops disposal prevents hazardous components opportunity to safely dispose with hands-on demonstrations covering backyard inside electronic items from harming our of HHW at a Countrywide composting, worm composting, grass recycling, environment. Residents and businesses Roundup at Brackett Field and water-wise and fire-wise gardening. At can discard their electronic waste, such in December. Many common these workshops, you’ll learn Smart Gardening household products pose a © iStockphoto.com | Lucentius as televisions, computer CPUs, monitors, techniques to create and maintain healthy, laptops, keyboards, printers, tablets, e-readers, hazard to the environment if beautiful, drought-tolerant lawns and gardens by disposed improperly. Materials giving your plants what they crave—nutrient- cell phones, and related items, at special collections. such as used motor oil, paint, rich soil. These workshops, which are about two turpentine, pesticides, and hours long, cover a wide spectrum of helpful La Verne residents also have the option of having Waste Management pick up electronic garden herbicides can damage yard maintenance tips. At most locations, no the environment when tossed reservations are required. bins at affordable prices to all residents. At most waste. Waste Management will accept in the trash or poured into the Residents will receive easy-to-follow, step- workshops, residents can purchase a backyard electronic waste as part of the regular bulky by-step instructions on how to . You’ll composting bin and a worm composting bin at item pickup program. There is no charge; storm drain. also see demonstrations of various composting discounted prices. however, it counts as one of the free bulky For more information on techniques with different types of compost bins. To learn more about the Smart Gardening item pickups residents receive each year. upcoming household hazardous In a continued effort to increase composting Program and to find the schedule for upcoming Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), waste or electronic waste © iStockphoto.com | MB Photo countywide, Los Angeles County has worked workshops in our area, call (888) CLEAN-LA or items such as old paints, batteries, pesticides, collection events, call La Verne with various composting bin vendors to provide visit www.smartgardening.com. and other chemicals, will not be collected Customer Service at (909) 596-8744. Page 2 caretakers andcompost! memorial site.Now theSurvivor Tree isover 30feettallandstillstanding—thankstoits recovery. Infact, thetreedidsowellthatitwas plantedbackwhereitstarted,atthe9/11 did notthinkthetreewould make it.Butafterayear, thepeartreebegan toshow signsof the “Survivor Tree” was nursedbacktolife. workers freedthetree.OnceinhandsofCitywideNurseryDirectorRichieCabo, beyond recognition. Yet, miraculously, theCallerypearwas stillhangingontolifewhen When therubbleof9/11hadsettled,asmalltreewas trappedunderdebrisandscorched compost saved The tree that The key toreviving thedamagedtree?Funguspreparationsandcompost. At first,Cabo website atwww.coffincouches.com. embalmers. that willfundscholarshipsforfuturefuneraldirectorsand turn CoffinCouchesintoanon-profit in private homes.Herreraplansto courses, andhairsalons,but mostly found attattooparlors,miniaturegolf The 200coucheshehassoldcanbe and brassplatingtodrinkholders. addition ofanything fromchromelegs reinforcement withsteelrodsandthe them inanew andcreative way. from thelandfills, but alsoreusing these coffins,notonlysaving them also typicallythrown out.Herrerabuys are slightlydamagedduringdelivery andare are typicallythrown out.Somenew coffins briefly atfuneralhomescannotberesoldand ground, though.Coffinsthathave beenused the uniquecouchescameinhighvolumes. possible. After thatconvention, demandfor that herealizedacoffincouch business was Monsterpalooza convention inCalifornia it wasn’t untilhedisplayedacouchatthe suggested thatHerrerasellthem.However, the couchwas delivered, thesetdesigner on thetelevision show, “True Blood.” After asked himtoturnacoffinintocouchforuse com, saidtheideacamewhenasetdesigner coffins. Heturnsthemintocouches. C

To seepicturesof thecoffincouches,visitcompany’s Coffin couchconstructionincludes These coffinsdon’t comefromunderthe Herrera, owner ofMorguePropRentals. Herrera hasfoundauseforunusedandunwanted “coffin waste.” Butformermedical examiner Vidal hances are,you’ve never given muchthoughtto coffin couch Take aseaton Photo CourtesyofPumpkinSky

Photos Courtesy of Coffin Couches grown inSalinas,CA,andthenshippedtoadistribution centerinGeorgia andonto have tolookacrossanoceanfindhunger—youjustneedtown. some ofthatfoodtotheneedy. Because,withallduerespectto Aunt Martha,youdon’t you aninsider’s perspective onthecharitiesthatdivert in bringingfoodfromfieldstoyourtable.Healsogives Bloom takes youinsidemany ofthebusinesses involved of in-depthinterviews andactualwork experience, suggestions forpositive change. Through acombination of foodwaste andoffers morethanafew practical impacts aswell.Healsooutlinesthemany causes its significanteconomic,environmental, andethical not onlytheastonishingmagnitudeofproblem,but times EACH DAY! As Bloom’s taleunfolds,hereveals seat RoseBowl inPasadena, CA,betweenoneandtwo calculation, America’s foodwaste would fillthe 90,000- to fork,thescopeofproblemwill.ByBloom’s own you tolearnthatfoodiswasted atevery stepfromfarm source offoodwaste. And, whileitmaynotsurprise Martha’s, oranyone else’s, scolding. may beabetterway toaccomplishthatgoalthan Aunt Nearly HalfofItsFood (And What We CanDo About It), American Wasteland:How AmericaThrows Away placed beforeyou.ReadingJonathanBloom’s book, an attempttoinstillsomesenseofthevalue ofthefood It wasn’t meanttoencourageovereating. Rather, itwas or Aunt Martha,youprobablyheardthatphrase atsomepointinyourchildhood. growing up. Whether spoken byyourparents,grandparents,first-gradeteacher, blank)?” To generationsof Americans, thisadmonitionwas afamiliar partof “Clean yourplate!Don’t you know therearepeoplestarvingin(fillthe Food forFood thought The authorwhetsourappetitewiththestoryoficeberg lettuceandotherproduce Of course,failure tocleanourplateisnottheonly maybe someofthosenew behaviors willbecomegoodhabits! lists, gotothegrocery, or orderfromarestaurantmenu. Who knows, food andwaste asyouplanyourfamily meals,make yourshopping reduce waste atevery level. For weeksafterreadingit,youwillthinkabout suggestions forpolicy-makers, institutions,andconsumersonhow to not presentproblemswithoutoffering solutions,however. You’ll find farms, andinourgrocerystores,restaurants,homes. The bookdoes point. public orprivate programs,suchasfoodstampsorpantries,atsome 18, halfofall American childrenwillhave lived inahouseholdthatused children) didn’t have enoughtoeatatsomepointduringtheyear. Byage seem wrong.In2008,15%ofall Americans (including22%of American right aboutonething—whensomepeoplegohungry, wasting fooddoes they’ve actuallypaidfor, thereisalsoanethicalquestion. Aunt Marthawas food. While commonsenseshouldencouragepeopletovalue something of fourmaybewasting about$2,275peryearonunneededorunwanted consumers purchasewilleventually bethrown away, meaningthatafamily gets eaten.Intermsofthefamily budget, asmuch25%ofthefood and resourcesinvolved inproducingthe25-50%offoodthatnever landfills, aswellsoilerosionanddepletion wasted water, energy, heads oflettucegobadinthebottomfamily fridge. or spoiledbeforepurchase. And, finally, weallknow thatmorethanafew to thesupermarket. Intheproducesectionatstore,somearedamaged shipment tothedistribution center, aswellbeforeandaftershipment However, someheadsaredeemedimperfectand rejectedbeforeandafter by thepickers, ithasa17-dayshelflife,provided thatitiskept cool. Some liesunharvested inthefield.Ifaheadisamong85-90%chosen consumer is1,500miles. At eachstep,someof thelettucegoestowaste. long, itisnotunusual. The average distanceproducetravels fromfarm to supermarkets throughouttheSoutheast. While thatdistribution chainis and what it will be next. be will and whatit history— of its charming string thing is the decomposing In anyrandom,sprawling, Quotes Re Bloom explores thecauses offoodwaste inourculture,on Bloom goesontodiscusstheenvironmental impactofmethanefrom American poet American Swenson,May 1913-1989 q uoted Fal l 2013

© L.H. Clark | Courtesy of Utah State University Press Page 3 Fall 2013

U.S. Postal Service 2012 recycling and composting helps sustainability report Earthscapes: seeing our world in a new way save natural resources. Photographs taken by NASA satellites and photographers in aircraft

recycling and composting 87 million tons of msw … of energy consumed by over saved more than that’s 10 million Greening the 1.1 quadrillion the same u.s. households btu of energy. amount in a year. Postal Service During 2012, the Postal Service saved more than $52 million through its sustainability efforts and generated nearly $24 million in revenue through its recycling programs. That same year, the United States Postal Service delivered 159.86 billion every pieces of mail to 152.15 million customers. “We foster sustainable practices through ton employee-led ‘Lean Green’ teams that help us save of money by promoting recycling and smart energy of paper recycled use,” reported Thomas G. Day, Chief Sustainability can save Officer. “Our employees share a commitment to making our operations more efficient through better the energy resource management.” equivalent 16 5 Among other achievements, that commitment gallons led to Lean Green teams recycling 253,908 tons of of gasoline material during 2012, including undeliverable mail, cardboard, and plastic. With a 48% recycling rate, the Postal Service is on track to achieve its 50% goal by 2015. Other environmental goals include: • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 recycling equivalent to • Reducing facility energy use 30% by 2015 • Reducing water use 10% by 2015 • Reducing spending on consumables 30% by 1 ton of 2020 aluminum cans barrels • Increasing purchases of environmentally preferable products each year conserves of oil • Reducing total postal-vehicle petroleum fuel 26 use 20% by 2015 Two of these goals, reducing facility energy over use and water use, have already been achieved. By 1,665 gallons 2012, facility energy use had dropped 34% and 153 million or water use had decreased by 38%. Work continues btus to reduce energy and water use further. The Postal of gasoline. Service is on track to achieve the other goals with a single exception — reducing postal-vehicle fuel use. That target remains elusive as an aging vehicle fleet serves a growing number of delivery points make a difference today! each year. However, the Postal Service continues to experiment with new route management techniques If we all take small steps every day to reduce the amount of waste we and other efforts to address this issue. produce, we can help protect our planet for generations to come. To increase the use of environmentally preferable products, the Postal Service has established minimum post-consumer recycled For more information, visit www.epa.gov/recycle. content standards for shipping and packaging materials. The Postal Service was the first federal agency to sign up on a nationwide basis for the This infographic is based on data from EPA’s 2011 MSW Characterization Federal Green Challenge, a national initiative under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Report. For more information, see http://1.usa.gov/USmsw. Sustainable Materials Management Program. The United States Postal Service was also the first Check out http://1.usa.gov/mswinfog for the full infographic. federal agency to publicly report its greenhouse gas emissions and seek independent verification of its results. To learn more about the Postal Service’s sustainability efforts, visit www.usps.com/green. Page 4 Fall 2013

painkillers (narcotics), depressants prescribed for anxiety or sleep disorders, and stimulants This is your water on drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or narcolepsy. In 2009, 16 million Americans over the age of 11 had taken

Improper disposal of medications Vozd © iStockphoto.com | G.M. a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for non-medical Every year, many families are faced with the in 30 states for pharmaceuticals, hormones, purposes in the year prior to being surveyed. challenge of how to dispose of medicines and other organic contaminants. They found Simply throwing these drugs in the trash that are not entirely consumed. Prescriptions contamination in 80% of the streams tested. leaves the possibility that someone may end change, symptoms improve, patients die, Septic systems and wastewater treatment up using or distributing them in an illegal and individuals fail to take their medications plants currently in use were not designed to fashion. And, simply allowing them to build as directed. All of these situations can leave remove pharmaceuticals. Several layers of up in your cupboard is not any better. Of people wondering what to do with the unused additional and expensive treatment would surveyed teens who abused prescription pain portions. In addition, over-the-counter be required to remove all of these chemicals relievers, 62% had to look no further than medications purchased in large quantities from the water. Over multiple generations, their parents’ medicine cabinets. often expire before they are used. These the presence of medications in these bodies of So, the question is, “What do I do with medications are usually thrown in the trash, water could impact aquatic life, animals, and these drugs instead?” The best option is to flushed down the toilet, or simply left to pile even humans. find a local Household Hazardous Waste up in the medicine cabinet. This, in turn, can Improper storage and disposal of (HHW) Roundup. These events provide the lead to drugs contaminating our water supply, medications can also have tragic consequences opportunity for residents to properly dispose accidentally poisoning children and pets, or for our children and pets. Every year, about received over 25,000 calls about pets of toxic items lying around their homes, being stolen for illegal use. 54,000 children under the age of six are consuming prescription drugs intended for including expired or unneeded medications. A wide array of pharmaceuticals are treated in emergency rooms for poisoning people. For details about the roundups, refer to the present in our waterways—hormones, from self-ingested prescription and over- Finally, improper disposal or indefinite article below. antibiotics, analgesics, antidepressants, and the-counter medicines. Children are not the storage of certain pharmaceuticals creates Proper disposal of unneeded medications tranquilizers, to name a few. In 1999-2000, the only ones at risk from accidental poisoning. opportunities for drug abuse. Commonly protects our environment, our communities, U.S. Geological Survey evaluated 139 streams In 2011, the Animal Poison Control Center abused prescription drugs include opioid and our families.

be if they get into our waterways. So 6. True or false: It’s okay to throw fruit you always make sure to: on the ground. a. Limit fertilizer use to areas away from a. True pavement. b. False b. Skip fertilizers but water your lawn Stormwater Quiz 7. True or false: Cigarette butts are constantly. c. Fertilize before it rains. biodegradable. Are you part of the solution or are © iStockphoto.com | CrazyD Photography d. Use Astroturf instead. Hey, it was a. True good enough for the Brady Family! b. False you contributing to the pollution? 8. True or false: Fertilizers encourage 4. To save money, you choose to change algae growth in waterways and the the oil in your car yourself. Although ocean. Find out by taking this quiz. you are being careful to drain all the fluids in separate containers, you a. True accidentally spill oil on the driveway. b. False You decide to: 9. True or false: Stormwater is untreated a. Hose the driveway clean to avoid before flowing to the ocean. staining. a. True b. Leave it; there are already many b. False stains. c. Use kitty litter or cornmeal to soak up 10. The trash nets in Ballona Creek and the oil, and then sweep it up and put it the Los Angeles River capture how into the garbage. many tons of trash each year? d. Use degreaser soap and water and a. 50 scrub the stain out. b. 100 c. 200 5. Your dog is your best friend, but one d. 500 1. You have just finished painting your 2. The best way to clean leaves and debris of your least favorite parts of dog bedroom and have paint left over that from your driveway and sidewalk is to: ownership is cleaning up behind him. 11. Which of the following are the most you will probably never use. You decide a. Use high-powered water to wash the Still, you know that dog waste is a common stormwater pollutants (check to: area. major stormwater pollutant, so you all that apply)? a. Throw the paint cans in the trash. b. Sweep them into the gutter for street always: a. Plastic bags b. Rinse out the cans in the driveway cleaners to pick up. a. Bring plenty of bags on every walk. b. Styrofoam or paper cups with a hose. c. Recycle the leaves in your flowerbed, b. Get upset when you see other people c. Cigarette butts c. Take the paint in its original container garden, or compost bin. not cleaning up after their dog. d. All of the above

to a Household Hazardous Waste d. Sweep them into your neighbors’ yard c. Encourage your dog to go under a

(HHW) Roundup. and make them deal with it. bush or in a flowerbed. d 11 c; 10 a; 9

Answers: d. Use the paint to make racing stripes d. Train your dog to use the toilet. a; 8 b; 7 b; 6 a; 5 c; 4 a; 3 c, 2 c; 1 on your car. 3. You love a green lawn, but you’re aware of how dangerous fertilizers can

We want your suggestions, questions and comments! Free Hazardous Materials Waste Management San Gabriel/Pomona Valley Roundups Available 13940 E. Live Oak Avenue Los Angeles County residents may properly dispose of their There are a few steps you need Baldwin Park, CA 91706 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) at no cost by dropping it to take to get your items ready for the 800-266-7551 off at one of the weekly, one-day collection roundups. These roundup, and things to remember once [email protected] • www.wm.com events are held on Saturdays at various locations throughout L.A. you’re there. Bring the items you wish to County. An event is usually held in or near La Verne in December dispose in a sturdy box, preferably in their and June of each year. Other events are held year-round in original, labeled containers. Do not EVER surrounding communities. mix products together. Please note that it Roundups are offered to all L.A. County residents. HHW is illegal to transport more than 15 gallons accepted includes motor oil and filters; brake, transmission, and or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in your Copyright© 2013 automotive fluids; gasoline; paint and paint thinners; turpentine; personal vehicle. Be prepared to leave your © iStockphoto.com | Lucentius City of La Verne, Waste Management cleaners with acid or lye; pesticides and herbicides; household containers at the site. Because of permitting San Gabriel/Pomona Valley, and and car batteries; pool chemicals; household and automotive requirements and the number of people who use Eco Partners, Inc. All rights reserved. batteries; and fluorescent tubes and bulbs. In addition, residents this program, items such as gasoline cans WILL can also recycle electronics and old medications. Please leave all NOT be returned. Please recycle this publication explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, trash, tires, and Visit www.888CleanLA.com for a complete after you have read it! business waste at home. schedule of upcoming events or call (888) CLEAN-LA.