ABOUT US

The Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division (SRCRD) is the planning unit for citywide solid resources recycling efforts and administers the City’s household hazardous waste program.

The Division is responsible for citywide planning and reporting to the State on AB939 diversion requirements. It is responsible for the following duties: preparing and retaining all documentations on the annual AB939 Report to the State; liaison to City Departments regarding recycling programs; administering grants including the SB332 grant to expand beverage recycling and anti-litter activities in City public venues and in community settings; provision of recycling education and outreach and recycling collection services to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools within the City; and administering the California Integrated Waste Management Board - designated Recycling Market Development Zone.

The Division also administers the $16 million annual Private Hauler Fee Ordinance, which requires non-exclusive permitting of private haulers who operate in the City and collects fees from those haulers who collect more than 1,000 tons annually from City customers. With this revenue source, staff administers a number of private sector contracted programs which include the following: multifamily recycling services for those serviced by private haulers;
commercial recycling pilot programs; funding of reuse agencies receiving corporate donations, such as LA Shares; a rebate incentive program to encourage private haulers to recycle mixed refuse and mixed construction and debris loads; and commercial food waste recycling for restaurants.

Having specialized environmental expertise, the staff performs and supervises special studies that provide information on present and future disposal capacity needs of the region, infrastructure needs to process regional tonnage, and other long-term industry solid resources issues.

The Division administers the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program for the City, which includes the operation of five permanent Solvents, Automotives, Flammables, and Electronics (SAFE) Collection Centers, which are open two to three days per week, and where residents can properly dispose of household chemicals and electronic waste not allowed in Class III landfills. Three additional centers are in various phases of siting, design and construction, which when completed will provide full City coverage. It also sponsors mobile HAZWASTE events which rotate monthly throughout the City where there is no SAFE Center conveniently located. As an adjunct to this program, staff administers the Used Oil State grant program which provides for the recruitment of automotive parts and maintenance retail establishments to accept used oil from residents and properly dispose of it on their behalf and gives those businesses a cash incentive on verified quantities of properly recycled used oil.

Most importantly, the Division works with other City Departments and Council offices to develop City policies and ordinances to encourage recycling in the areas such as the following: buying recycled content products; construction and debris recycling in City construction projects; electronic waste take-back policies for retail establishments; and packaging and plastic reduction through education and other means. Staff also provides legislative review on all local, State, and federal legislation and regulations that may have an impact on City diversion programs, or on its household hazardous waste program.