Over the last several years the Department of Public Works has undertaken a wide variety of programs and projects which have preserved or enhanced our environment. A brief overview of these initiatives which involve the Bureau of Sanitation follows, and the name of a contact who can provide more specific information is included at the end of each section.

LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Sewer Program - The City currently collects and treats over 450 million gallons of sewage each day, utilizing a system which includes 6,520 miles of pipelines, 54 pump plants and four treatment plants. City Engineering and Sanitation staff have combined to make significant improvements to the system; some specific items are as follows:
  • Sanitation's continuing industrial discharge enforcement and pretreatment program has greatly reduced the amount of industrial pollutants entering the treatment system, with the result that heavy metals have been reduced over 70% since the program was initiated in 1984. This and similar improvements have resulted in lower environmental monitoring costs and enhanced treated water quality.

  • Following the termination of all biosolids (sewage sludge) discharge to the ocean in November 1987, the Hyperion Treatment Plant has beneficially reused 100% of all the biosolids it produces since November 1989. Reuse applications include digestion and combustion for onsite energy generation, as well as off-site land application and co-composting using green waste (yard and tree trimmings) collected by Bureau Solid Resources Collection Division crews. The City's specially-formulated compost material, TOPGRO, continues to be marketed at local retail outlets, including FEDCO, Home Depot, and (in West Los Angeles) Armstrong's Garden Center.

  • The Hyperion Plant, by meeting all full secondary treatment standards (except BOD) in 1989, came into compliance with the 1998 Consent Decree mandates a full nine years ahead of schedule.

  • On the basis of demonstrated high-quality treatment capabilities, in 1995 the Bureau successfully negotiated a renewed NPDES permit for the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant having significantly fewer regulatory requirements and subsequent lower monitoring costs.

  • In 1995-96, Bureau staff participated in the pilot testing of membrane-based tertiary treatment alternatives at the Terminal Island Treatment Plant. This work follows the October 1994 approval by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to upgrade the plant to full tertiary treatment for water reuse purposes.

  • In 1995, in response to local resident complaints of odors at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, the Bureau constructed enclosures at the headworks building and conducted numerous studies of physical and chemical odor-control alternatives that have resulted in significant improvements with respect to odor reduction.

  • Bureau staff conducted numerous studies of Phase I and Phase II aeration facilities to improve settling characteristics of secondary effluents at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. The results led to significant findings designed to improve the plant's ability to maintain regulatory effluent compliance requirements in anticipation of the needs of the Department of Water and Power's East Valley Water Recycling Project.

  • Bureau efforts on the 1990 Settlement Agreement with the Regional Water Quality Control Board have led to near-complete fulfillment of City commitments, including upgrades of all 54 wastewater pumping plants and the construction of emergency standby generators at 24 of these plants. As a result of these improvements, emergency sewer overflows due to power failures have ceased.

  • Bureau management and staff participated in task forces commissioned by the State Water Resources Control Board to develop and implement a revised Inland Surface Waters Plan. This effort is designed to provide a revised plan that complies with the State's current watershed management approach with respect to NPDES permitting while mandating consideration of economic impacts due to regulatory water quality controls. This is expected to greatly benefit the Bureau's Tillman and Los Angeles-Glendale water reclamation plants in their ability to maintain compliance with NPDES requirements.

  • In 1995, the Bureau initiated plans for a Regulatory Liaison group that would serve to effectively coordinate Bureau efforts in areas of regulatory compliance, especially those involving NPDES permits. This group will liaison with regulatory agencies, publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, and other Bureau and City departments in the development of regulatory action plans and policies, and will interface with ongoing Bureau and City legislative personnel and their efforts.

  For more information on these projects and items, please contact the following:

  Sewer maintenance assistance:
  (213) 485-5884 or (213) 485-7575 (days); (213) 485-5391 (nights).
  
  Plant tours:
  Call Nancy Carr, (310) 648-5363 for tour appointments.
  
  

• Stormwater Program - With the significant improvements made in the sewer program, stormwater discharge to the ocean (most of which do not flow through any treatment facilities) has become a focal point for our ocean protection activities. The City has worked closely with other agencies, business and industry, environmental groups and the public to come up with projects and programs to deal with stormwater pollution. Some of our activities to date are as follows:
  • In cooperation with the Bureau of Engineering Stormwater Management Division and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, obtained an NPDES permit for our stormwater discharges in June of 1996.

  • Beginning in July 1992, the Bureau provided for diversion of dry weather flow in the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain from untreated discharges onto the beach to treatment at the Hyperion Treatment Plant.

  • Participated in a pilot program to evaluate enhanced catch basin cleaning, street sweeping, sand filters for parking lots and the effect of household hazardous waste collections on stormwater quality in Santa Monica Bay.

  • Participated in a feasibility study of redirecting dry weather flows in Ballona Creek to Hyperion for treatment.

  • Participated in development of a public education program regarding storm drain pollution in consultation with Heal the Bay, an environmental organization.

  • Expanded and enhanced monitoring and investigation of storm drains flowing to the Santa Monica Bay to alert the public to potential health risks in the event of incidents causing high bacteria counts in the ocean.

  • Worked with Heal the Bay to develop a stencil for marking catch basins with a design to educate the public about not using them for disposing of waste materials.

  • Participated in development of a Geographic Information System to assist in managing the stormwater pollution abatement program.

  • Participated in the City's Stormwater Management Committee, which was formed to bring together all affected City Departments and ensure a cohesive effort.

  For storm drain assistance, call (213) 485-5884;
             night emergency, call (213) 485-5391.
  

• Environmental Monitoring (Laboratory sampling, testing and analysis) - Sanitation formed the Environmental Monitoring Division (EMD) in the late 1980's to provide independent testing and analysis of air and water samples from wastewater and solid waste facilities. EMD is currently a fully-accredited laboratory with a staff of nearly 170 employees involved in process, as well as discharge testing, and analysis of impact on receiving waters.
  • Formed Environmental Monitoring Division (EMD) as an independent division.

  • Outfitted EMD with state-of-the-art equipment needed to perform the full range of analyses required by our permits and other mandates.

  • Encouraged development of working relationships with others involved and interested in LA's environment. These relationships include Heal the Bay, American Oceans Campaign, Surfrider Foundation, the County Lifeguard Association, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, EPA Region IX and the County and State Departments of Health Services regarding ocean contamination issues and the Southern California Air Quality Management Division regarding air emissions from our liquid and solid waste facilities.

  • Joined with EPA Region IX, State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards of Los Angeles, Santa Ana and San Diego, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and the City of San Diego in the Southern California Coastal Water Resources Project. This project is a compliment to existing marine monitoring research, striving to improve monitoring methods by examining data assessments and investigating how man's activities and waste production affect marine life.

  Contact: Mas Dojiri, Environmental Monitoring Division, Manager, (310) 648-5610.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Solid Resources Citywide Recycling - The Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division (SRCRD) oversees the City's plan for state-mandated waste reduction. Providing educational materials and technical assistance to businesses, institutions, and multi-family residences, SRCRD targets specific waste streams and is instrumental in promoting market development. Through programs such as workshops, working groups, vendor shows, informational guides, collection programs, campaigns, and pilot programs, SRCRD empowers local communities, residents, businesses, and government agencies so they can voluntarily implement cost-effective waste diversion programs of their own.

  Contact: Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division, (213) 473-8228.

• Curbside Program - City Sanitation forces currently collect approximately 5,300 tons of material a day from 720,000 residential units in the City. We have now expanded our service to provide not only refuse collection, but also curbside recyclable collection and separated yard trimmings collection. All City-service households are served by the complete program, which includes:
  • Curbside recycling currently provided to 720,000 households (100%) as of April 28, 1995.

  • Automated collection of separated yard trimmings currently provided to 720,000 households (100%) as of January 1996.

  • Automated collection of refuse currently provided to 720,000 households (100%), as of August 11, 1995.

  • Special programs in place for the following:
    • Bulky item picked up for all City residents
      
    • Appliances for recycling
      
    • Yard trimmings drop off
      
    • Christmas tree recycling
      
    • Recyclables collection from LAUSD schools
      
    • Backyard composting (including workshops)
      
    • Horse manure collection (for composting).
      
    • Dead animals picked up
    • Once a year - bulky brush pickup

  • Major multi-media, multi-language public education program which has been found to have reached over 90% of the public; development of a complete school curriculum.

  • Market development for recyclables by specifying post-consumer recycle content in City - purchased automated refuse containers, bins and landfill construction elements.

  • Promoted sales of TOPGRO L.A.'s Own Compost, which resulted in a 400 % increase in the number of bags sold compared to 1994.

  • Requests for service may be made by calling 1-800-773-CITY.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Roundups
  • Sanitation conducted HHW roundup events jointly with Los Angeles County from January 1989 until the roundups were replaced by the Mobile Program in February 1994. The public responded very favorably to these roundups, and the following are items of interest related to those events:
    • Conducted 43 roundup events servicing over 65,000 participants, with as many as 3,500 vehicles participating in a 6-hour period.

    • Collected more than

      • 166,000 gallons motor oil (recycled)
        
      • 95,000 gallons paint (recycled)
        
      • 7,000 auto batteries (recycled)
        
      • 16,000 55-gallon drums of household hazardous waste (recycled or disposed)

    • Coordinated with private industry, resulting in the co-sponsoring of one-day collection events or roundups resulting in contributions from UnoCal of $1.5 million.

    • Provided an ongoing publicity campaign to encourage residents to participate in collection events.

    • Provided a multi-media, bilingual public education program to encourage the proper use, storage, and disposal of household hazardous waste as well as the use of alternatives.

  • Mobile HHW Collection Program
    • The Mobile HHW Collection (HAZMOBILE) Program was implemented, beginning in February 1994 to replace one-day collection events, or "roundups", to better service households by offering more convenient days and locations to properly dispose of or recycle household hazardous waste. The Hazmobile which consists of trucks and trailers, travels to at least 24 locations throughout the City each calendar year for one to two weeks to collect waste from residents. The Hazmobile operates on an appointment basis and is usually open to L.A. City and County residents on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

      The following are program details:

      • Conducted 57 Mobile Collection events between February 1994 and June 1996 serving over 31,700 residents.

      • Collected more than 2.6 million pounds of HHW:
        • 47,200 gallons of used motor oil (recycled)
        • 5,200 gallons of anti-freeze (recycled)
        • 46,100 gallons of latex-based paint (recycled)
        • 3,300 auto batteries (recycled)
        • 8,600 55-gallon drums of household hazardous waste material (recycled and disposed)
      • Established a 24-hour automated bilingual hotline on household hazardous waste and oil recycling (1-800-98-TOXIC).

      • In conjunction with the Mobile Collection Program, Sanitation provides an ongoing public information program stressing the safe use, storage and disposal of household hazardous waste and possible alternative products plus a multi-media, bilingual public education program.

      • For information and appointments, call 1-800-98-TOXIC.

  • Used Oil Recycling Program
    • Sanitation, UNOCAL Corporation and American Oceans Campaign teamed up to establish a program where 62 UNOCAL stations became certified by the State as used oil collection centers. Nineteen Chief Auto Parts stores are also being certified as centers, along with a establishing a container distribution program. All oil collected is re-refined. A total of 88,000 gallons of used oil have been collected at certified centers since May, 1994. The program is made possible by grants from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

    • During 1995-1996 the Bureau of Sanitation conducted 40 community-based used oil collection events that were attended by approximately 2,100 residents who brought over 10,000 gallons for recycling. At these events approximately 12,000 oil collection containers were collected.

    • For fiscal year 1996-97, the Bureau has set a goal of reaching 150 used oil centers throughout the City. American Oceans Campaign continues as a partner with Sanitation.

    • For information, call 1-800-98-TOXIC.