Waste

The reported Metropolitan Transit Authority payment of $3.7 million to subcontractors including Pasadena-based Wiltec for environmental impact studies on the proposed 710 connector project is a total waste of money if the reports include junk science. What good does it do to have observers report vehicle trips on local roads and freeways only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the impact of any 710 connector will be felt 24/7/365? (“Traffic count begins for report on 710 gap,” May 15.)

Private waste hauler fees The City Council on Tuesday will consider increasing the city fee charged to private waste haulers who collect trash from commercial businesses. As allowed under state law, the city charges a 15% fee on the company's revenue from trash collection in the city to support mandated waste diversion efforts. Public Works officials propose to raise the fee to 20% starting in January to meet rising waste diversion costs. WHAT TO EXPECT The council will likely approve the request.

“Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.” — Alan Lakein   CA Senior Services knows that time is one resource that we all need more of. This is why they do your research and legwork for you in regard to senior-related needs. CSS is a free referral agency that helps family and friends find the appropriate solution for the needs of their elderly loved ones. Finding a long-term care home is one way of getting assistance with all daily living activities such as house keeping, laundry, medication maintenance, etc. Wherever you or your senior loved ones are in life, CSS can help you explore your options.

CITY HALL ? City officials are moving forward with more aggressive efforts to convert waste into energy at Scholl Canyon Landfill, a key city asset that is projected to reach capacity in about 12 years. The City Council on Tuesday allocated $200,000 to fund research on emerging technologies that city officials say could help meet long-term waste reduction goals, while also adding to the city?s energy sources. City officials will work with outside experts to review available waste-conversion technologies, according to the plan approved Tuesday.

CITY HALL — The City Council this week called on state officials to reopen the Department of Motor Vehicles branch on Glenoaks Boulevard, citing outrage from residents since it was closed indefinitely last month after a nearly $1-million facelift. The branch at 1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd. was one of three offices that were closed as the DMV grapples with reduced staffing amid the state budget crisis. Each day the Glendale branch served about 1,200 customers who are now being directed to offices in Lincoln Park and Pasadena.

Should anyone be sorry that the landfills are not generating income (“ Landfill sees steep revenue drop ,” Feb. 20)? Have we become some Third World country where our revenue depends on accepting trash? City officials have their policies upside-down. We should be doing everything to reduce waste and extend the life of the landfill. How about establishing a vision of zero waste by 2020? That would translate into zero dollars in revenue from landfill operations. What most Glendale residents may still not know is that the city's expenditures have far outpaced its revenues, starting since well before the recession.

So we are just going to pile it higher — trash, that is? The City Council on Nov. 14 authorized a study with Los Angeles County to look at the environmental impacts of expanding the Scholl Canyon landfill to extend its capacity by adding 175 feet of elevation — about the height of the Hilton Glendale — and 200 feet horizontally. This additional capacity would add about 15 years to the life of the canyon as a working landfill. The study will cost $750,000. Scholl Canyon landfill presently accepts 1,500 tons of waste per day. This is an ever-increasing number, considering the growth we have experienced.

In how many ways is "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" a horrible miscalculation? Pretty much all of them. Yes, it has a couple dozen chuckles and maybe a few true laughs, but that's not enough to sustain this written-by-numbers piece of Hollywood "product. " Given the level of talent involved, this is especially disappointing. Director Don Scardino is fresh off of “30 Rock.” Steve Carell can do (almost) no wrong in my book. Steve Buscemi is one of the greatest characters since the fall of the studio system.

There are literally dozens of movies about the Titanic; this 1953 Hollywood version is one of the three best-known (the other two being Roy Ward Baker's “A Night to Remember” and James Cameron's modest little 1997 chamber drama). Like Cameron, director Jean Negulesco (Fox's go-to guy for melodrama at the time), writer/producer Charles Brackett (after the severing of his amazing 12-year collaboration with Billy Wilder), and co-writers Walter Reisch and Richard Breen focused primarily on the romantic lives of fictional characters.

In a move to save money while also helping the environment, Glendale Unified officials might add a consultant to analyze the district's waste disposal system to see if there's room for improvement. At no cost to the district, MC Waste Consultants would analyze the way schools dispose of trash and recyclables with its current contractor, Southland Disposal. “This just goes toward us looking at every place we can to save dollars in today's world,” said Glendale Unified Supt.

The reported Metropolitan Transit Authority payment of $3.7 million to subcontractors including Pasadena-based Wiltec for environmental impact studies on the proposed 710 connector project is a total waste of money if the reports include junk science. What good does it do to have observers report vehicle trips on local roads and freeways only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the impact of any 710 connector will be felt 24/7/365? (“Traffic count begins for report on 710 gap,” May 15.)

Should anyone be sorry that the landfills are not generating income (“ Landfill sees steep revenue drop ,” Feb. 20)? Have we become some Third World country where our revenue depends on accepting trash? City officials have their policies upside-down. We should be doing everything to reduce waste and extend the life of the landfill. How about establishing a vision of zero waste by 2020? That would translate into zero dollars in revenue from landfill operations. What most Glendale residents may still not know is that the city's expenditures have far outpaced its revenues, starting since well before the recession.

The way Glendale deals with trash faces steady change over the next 20 years as the city lays the groundwork to eventually have zero waste reaching its landfill. Some changes have already passed through City Council chambers, but others - such as a program that uses microorganisms to break down food, and mandatory commercial recycling - are still in their infancy. The zero-waste effort was unanimously approved by the City Council Tuesday, although the individual components of the broad-based plan will still need to come back for the green light before they're implemented, said Public Works Director Steve Zurn.

Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works is holding a hazardous waste and e-waste collection at the Rose Bowl on Sat., Dec. 3, from 9 AM-3 PM. The collection will be at parking lot "K". Household Hazardous Waste includes Used Oil, Unused Non-Controlled Medicines, Auto Fluids, Sharps Waste/Medical Needles, Beauty Products, Mercury Thermostats, Paint and Paint Related Products, Auto and Household Batteries, Lawn and Garden Products, Compact Fluorescent...

Do we really need to spend $60 million on smart meters to tell us what most of us already know (Smart meters don't count as 'renewable', Oct. 2)? Or do we need to spend that much money to inform people that it is better to use electric appliances in off peak hours, such as in the evening or at night? The utility has been telling us that for years. Seems like a waste of money to me. Proponents contend that a smarter grid allows customers to take better advantage of renewable energy, and thus take part in “a cleaner, more efficient and more reliable future.” What does that mean?

It is no surprise that the smart meters do not count as renewable, as they do absolutely nothing to reduce emissions and environmental pollution (Smart meters don't count as 'renewable',” Oct. 2). They are simply passive devices that measure consumption. As a matter of fact, the expenditure of the stated $70 million for Glendale to replace the perfectly functional (and cheaper) existing meters is a monumental demonstration of misplaced priorities. To my understanding, the main beneficiaries of this project are the vendors of the new meters and the contractors who install them.