Calabasas residents take their recycling seriously
Next year's goal is 70 tons of TVs and computer monitors
By Joann Groff  joann@theacorn.com

Batteries, paint, eyeglasses--Calabasas residents stay resolute to the need to recycle different kinds of waste in the city, and the end-of-the-year numbers prove it.

In recent years the city has amplified its program, which includes local roundups and the placement of distribution bins to help residents recycle a wide range of trash. More bins are being provided, among other efforts.

"People are becoming more concerned," said Alex Farassati, Calabasas environmental services director. "We are really happy with the participation. It costs us more--we spend about $2 a pound for batteries and electronics--but we are happy about it."

Calabasas collected 9,149 pounds of dry-cell batteries in the last fiscal year, up 56 percent from last year. The city's cost to collect and recycle batteries was $16,500.

Farassati said he credits the recycling awareness to an increase in recycling canisters throughout the city and more advertising

"People are really trying not to dump batteries in their trash cans," Farassati said. "They know it's going to spill out and pollute the landfills."

Next fiscal year's goal is to recycle 12,000 pounds of batteries.

Collection canisters can be found at 20 different city locations, including all schools, supermarkets and public buildings. Cellphones and empty inkjet cartridges can also be deposited in the canisters.

The city also collected 125,742 pounds of mixed electronics, two and a half times what was collected last year.

More than 1,000 customers dumped their items, including 1,287 television sets and computer monitors. Next fiscal year's goal is 150,000 pounds.

The e-waste collection site is the only one of its kind in the northern part of Los Angeles County, said Farassati, so they get customers from West Hills, Simi Valley and beyond.

More than 420 residents in Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village took advantage of the paint and oil roundups, held every Saturday in one of the three cities involved.

The city collected almost 3,000 gallons of water-based paint and 308 gallons of used motor oil. The roundups also brought in 47 used oil filters, 44 car batteries and 35 gallons of antifreeze.

In partnership with Lions International, Calabasas also collected and recycled 240 pairs of eyeglasses. The recycled glasses will be cleaned, sorted and shipped to developing countries and distributed for free to those in need of reading glasses.

For more information, visit www.cityofcalabasas.com.