February 8, 2006

Ventura County Star


Days of tossing batteries in trash are over
By Zeke Barlow


Starting today, it will be illegal to throw batteries, fluorescent lights and thermometers in the trash bin — not that it wasn't a faux pas to throw away such trash called "universal waste" in the first place.

"It's not the right thing to do environmentally," said Jay Duncan, Oxnard's recycling manager.

Though a state regulation that goes into effect today prohibits residents from throwing away universal wastes, Ventura County and the cities within it already have programs in place for people to recycle materials that could be harmful to the environment.

"It's more of a formality," said Joe Yayner, Ventura's environmental services specialist. "We've been accepting this stuff for a long time now."

The state passed the Universal Waste Law in 2002 regarding disposal of universal wastes but counties were given until today to put a recycling program in place. Statewide, many of the counties were ahead of today's deadline, said Ron Baker, spokesman for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

The most noticeable difference in Ventura County will be cities doing more outreach to citizens to teach them about what can be recycled and the hazardous of not recycling. Every city has a program a few times a year where citizens can drop off universal waste at a central location.

At one such program in Oxnard in December, 65 computer monitors, 85 pounds of batteries, 46 lead-acid batteries, 14 microwaves and 342 fluorescent bulbs were recycled.

"For the most part the public within Ventura County has done a darn good job realizing what can be put in trash containers," said Pete Kaiser, assistant manager for Ventura County's environmental and energy resource division.

During 2006, Californians are expected to throw away nearly 600 million batteries, more than 365 thermostats and more than 17 million lamps, according to 2002 projections by the Integrated Waste Management Board.

The push to recycle more and more is much like the initial paper and plastic recycling wave that caught on at the end of the last century, said Tim Nanson, Simi Valley public works director.

"I think that 25 years ago we would have been having this same conversation about bottles and cans," he said. "Recycling is something that Californians like to do. We all appreciate the environment here."

Nan Drake, spokeswoman for Gold Coast Recycling, which handles much of the recyclable material in the county, said people are generally pretty good about knowing what can and can't be thrown away. She said few recyclables are picked out of the trash.

Many cities and the county plan to ramp up public relations efforts after today to educate citizens on what can be recycled and where to do it.

Though fines can reach in to the thousands of dollars for dumping hazardous waste, most said they would educate people on the proper recycling protocol.

"A number of questions also remain about what constitutes universal waste and how it should be handled, said Mike Smith, market area manager for Waste Management, which also handles recycling. "However, we are doing what we can to assist our customers and let them know there are a number of local sites available where people can take universal waste to dispose of it safely."

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