Hazardous Waste Disposal Center Opens for Northwest Valley

The ribbon was cut Thursday in a ceremony opening the new Nicole Bernson S.A.F.E. Center in Granada Hills.

S.A.F.E. stands for Solvents, Automotive, Flammables and Electronics. S.A.F.E Centers, located throughout the City of Los Angeles, enable residents to safely and properly dispose of electronic, automotive and Household Hazardous Waste. That includes TVs, electronic toys, motor oil, paint, pool chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries. It is illegal to throw away Household Hazardous Waste into the regular trash, because, once in landfills, they can leach toxic pollution into the air, soil and groundwater.

The new S.A.F.E. center at 10241 N. Balboa Blvd. will offer Northwest San Fernando Valley residents a convenient location to drop off Household Hazardous Waste in their own community. It will reduce the distance they would need to drive to use the next closest S.A.F.E. Center, located in Sun Valley.

In fiscal year 2011-12, S.A.F.E. Centers collected and recycled or safely disposed of 7.8 million pounds of Household Hazardous Waste. They are an integral part of the city reaching its Zero Waste Goal. Former Councilmember Greig Smith, with the help of Ms. Bernson, and Councilmember Mitch Englander, authored the groundbreaking RENEW LA Plan, a blueprint to end the city’s use of landfills, maximize recycling, generate sustainable energy and achieve the Zero Waste Goal.

At the ceremony were: Councilmember Mitch Englander, former Councilmember Greig Smith, Public Works Board President Andrea A. Alarcón, Bureau of Sanitation Director Enrique C. Zaldivar and City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.