Recycling

Students from Miller Elementary School emptied bags of aluminum cans and plastic bottles into recycle containers during a tour of the Burbank Recycle Center on Wednesday. The tour was in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the California Refund Value program, the state's largest recycling program, established in 1986. The students toured the facility with Bridgett Luther, director of the California Department of Conservation. "We've recycled enough material to cover the entire California [Interstate]

He’s in the movie business, but he’s not at Sundance with all the snow bunnies and hot stars this week. Ryan Kugler is an aggregator. His DVA (Distribution Video & Audio) is one of the most successful businesses in Burbank, but don’t look for his store. Instead, you’ll see his stuff in the bargain bins at major outlets, including the 99 Cents Only Stores. He buys in bulk the films that didn’t quite make it to a red-carpet premiere, but sometimes feature big-name actors — before they were famous.

Jenna Bordelon BURBANK -- The Burbank Recycle Center would like residents to think twice before throwing out that old pair of shoes. The fourth annual "Second Chance Week" will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the center, 500 S. Flower St. Residents are asked to haul their unwanted clothes to the center for donation to Goodwill rather than simply throwing them...

Grant awarded to two Burbank schools will emphasize conservation and environmental issues in the classroom.BURBANK -- The Burbank Unified School District has officially earned the title of Environmental Ambassador, capping off two years of training that promoted recycling. Two of the district's schools, John Burroughs High School and John Muir Middle School, were given grants to promote environmental programs within the school in 2003. Now that the program has concluded, the recycling measures the schools adopted and curriculum that Burbank teachers developed will continue to resonate not only in the school district itself -- but throughout the state.

Laura Sturza SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- Have you noticed bulging dumpsters at the curb lately? During a time of the year when many people are considering new beginnings, the Burbank Recycle Center is working at a steady clip to give a new start to Burbank's used metals, papers, glass and plastics. "When the seasonal changes hit us, we get an increase in volume," said Geoff Fulsom, vice president of sales and marketing for BLT Enterprises, the city's recycling contractor.

Fifth-graders spun inflatable globes, crushed beverage cans and weighed newspapers as part of Washington Elementary School’s inaugural Earth Day festivities. The schoolyard of environmentally conscious children braved 96-degree weather Tuesday to educate their peers about conserving water, saving energy and recycling bottles, cans and paper. “Education has to start with the kids,” said Rose Worthen, of Burbank Water and Power’s conservation department.

The business of recycling the mounds and mounds of trash in Burbank continues to exceed state and national averages as the city forges ahead on its push for zero waste. "Our overall recycle rate in the city is really very good," recycling coordinator Kreigh Hampel said. "We've got a really healthy recycling program here." Zero waste refers to the goal of reusing as much as waste possible. Burbank recycled 52% of its waste in 2006 and has operated at about a 60% overall average over the past several years, he said.

Laura Sturza As the holidays wind down, residents can put their Christmas trees to work by recycling them -- offering a seasonal gift to the environment and protection from a potential fire hazard. "If you bought a tree a week before Christmas, it's too dry to be near your house, and if you've stored it near your garage, fence or car, that is just a pile of fuel looking for ignition," Fire Capt. Ron Bell said. In addition, the trees should not be burned in a fireplace.

For Burbank resident Sean Barton and his wife, Jamie Barton, lunch is often an energy bar on the run rather than a big sit-down meal. Between the two of them, they consume at least 10 snack bars a week. So when Barton heard about an energy bar recycling initiative that reuses energy bar wrappers while raising money for charity, it was something he figured his household could contribute to. “It fits us both,” he said. Earlier this year, Barton and his wife began collecting energy bar wrappers as part of the Energy Bar Brigade, one of a handful of recycling initiatives organized by TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based company that makes plant fertilizer and prides itself on the sustainability of its products.

Amber Willard BURBANK -- For its aggressive efforts to cut down on materials dumped into landfills, Burbank's Race to Zero Waste program has received a state award for excellence. In April, city officials were notified that the League of California Cities had selected Burbank's recycling program for a Helen Putnam Award. "The award itself is for the entire integrated waste management program," said Sylvia Glazer, street and sanitation manager for Burbank's Public Works Department.

Luther Burbank Middle School hosted an e-waste recycling event Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school's Imagine Green Eco Club collected unused or broken TVs, remote controls, laptops, monitors and cell phones, among other electronic devices. The electronics will be recycled by eWaste Center Inc., of Commerce.   -- Maria Hsin , Times Community News Twitter: @mariahsin    

As the holidays season nears an end, so does the need for a Christmas tree. The City of Burbank has a few options for those of you who want to recycle your tree. Residents can take old trees to the Verdugo Park Parking lot or McCambridge Park on the Andover Drive side. The city will then turn the tree mulch into compost. The city will also be picking up trees near regular curbside trash over the next couple of weeks. -- Ross A. Benson, for Times Community News Photo: Christmas tree recycling drop-off at McCambridge Park in Burbank.

Reactions were mixed at the Burbank Recycle Center on Tuesday - the first day the facility stopped paying CRV reimbursement for recyclables after its operator was slapped with allegations that it filed $33 million in fraudulent claims at another recycling center. The change threatens to drive customers like Cathy MacDonald away. The Burbank resident usually receives about $6 per visit for her recyclables. On Tuesday, she only got 23 cents. “I don't think it's fair,” she said as she brought her plastic recyclables to the facility on Flower Street.

Burbank Recycle Center will no longer pay  CRV reimbursement  for bottles and cans beginning Tuesday, according to city officials. The center will only pay scrap value for certain beverage containers, which means residents will receive substantially smaller payments, according to Kreigh Hampel, recycling coordinator. For example, the center currently pays $1.54 for a pound of aluminum cans, but it will drop to 20 cents under the new structure, Hampel said. Currently the pay-out for clear plastic bottles is 93 cents per pound and 55 cents per pound for opaque plastic items such as milk jugs.

The City Council this week hired a new operator for the city's recycling center. The company was selected even though it was hand-picked by the existing recycler, who allegedly bilked the state out of $33 million in fraudulent claims. The 4-1 vote came after a lengthy discussion in which Councilman David Gordon repeatedly asked for details about what role the existing contractor - Burbank Recycling - might play at the facility, given its recommendation of newcomer Burrtec Waste Industries Inc. to take over the operation.

Burbank officials have set a self-imposed Nov. 15 deadline to hammer out a deal with a new operator for the city's recycling center - even if the prospective newcomer was selected by the current contractor who is accused of making almost $33 million in fraudulent claims. City officials cut ties with Burbank Recycling Inc. in March after the state alleged the firm submitted millions in fraudulent recycling claims. Under the terms of its contract with the city, Burbank Recycling is permitted to choose its successor.

California is no longer reimbursing Burbank for its curbside recycling because the operator of the city's recycling center is accused of making more than $48 million in fraudulent claims. The city received nearly $20,500 in curbside recycling revenues from the state last fiscal year, according to a statement released Tuesday by the city. It will not receive any additional funds until a new operator is certified by the state and a new curbside application is approved. The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery - known as CalRecycle - denied Burbank's application in January, but the city appealed.

Approximately 30 tons of old and used electronics were dropped off at an “e-waste” collection event Saturday. F&H Office Systems and Unity Church hosted the free electronic waste collection drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church parking lot on Victory Drive, where residents brought in rundown printers, computer monitors, home entertainment equipment and cell phones for recycling, organizers said. “I believe every day is an Earth day,” F&H owner Joseph Fischer said.

He’s in the movie business, but he’s not at Sundance with all the snow bunnies and hot stars this week. Ryan Kugler is an aggregator. His DVA (Distribution Video & Audio) is one of the most successful businesses in Burbank, but don’t look for his store. Instead, you’ll see his stuff in the bargain bins at major outlets, including the 99 Cents Only Stores. He buys in bulk the films that didn’t quite make it to a red-carpet premiere, but sometimes feature big-name actors — before they were famous.