It was one-stop shop for residents to shred documents & dispose of waste with the help of green-environmental services.
Droves of residents in the Crenshaw community came out to take advantage of the 4th Annual Free Community Clean Recycling and Shredding event on Saturday, March 25th. Mothers In Action, along with their community partners, sponsors and volunteers held their yearly ‘green and environment friendly’ event at the Los Angeles Sentinel from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Neighbors rounded the block between Coliseum, 39th Street, Bronson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard eager to shred sensitive documents and drop off unwanted items without getting out of their cars.
The event was accessible for locals to get a head start on ‘spring cleaning,’ unloading products, chemical liquids and appliances with the help of recycling and disposable resources provided by municipal services.
The community clean-up was filled with Mothers In Action members, staff, volunteers and city organizations that provided sanitation resources. The event not only helped consumers to get rid of their waste, but to educate the Crenshaw community on sustaining a clean environment and the importance of hygiene and hazardous waste disposal.
With an influx of new restaurants and businesses expanding in the area, it is priority for residents to ‘clean house.’ The neighborhood community was happy to volunteer their properties that would help to flourish their homes and neighborhoods as a whole.
The event brought out eco-friendly recyclers. ‘I love to recycle things and I’ve got to leave something for my grandbabies here. I recycle just about everything,” said a member of the community.
“I got a flyer in the mail,” stated a resident. “It is important for the environment. We have to do our part and help out.”
Locals brought prescription drugs, cellphones, wiring and much more.
Many are a fan of recycling, a person by the name of Betty stated she goes to the beach area to recycle.
On helping the community to dispose their waste, “It feels good, this is my job,” Carlos, one many volunteers and staff who was happy to help the community with their belongings. “Desk tops, laptops, microwaves, TVs, LCDs were collected.”
“The City of Los Angeles Sanitation holds 52 clean-ups a year, they do them all over County, from Inglewood to Compton,” stated a representative of City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works.
“Sanitations are provided in seven permanent facilities, that everything you bring today, you can bring to the facilities. This is more like a gathering. We joined with Los Angeles Sentinel and Chambers of Commerce, Shred-It USA and whole number of people including. As far as sanitation, we offer these services every weekend for free, but we do temporary mobile events like this,” stated Department of Public Works.
“It’s important because the Environmental Protection Agency initiates this program to ensure safe harbors, beaches and drinking water. The trash and household waste goes into beaches through the storm and drains directly into our beaches and drinking water which affects the entire ecosystem. This is what the EPA wants to ensure best management practices for all hazardous waste that can affect our ecosystem,” states Tommy Daniels Jr. on the significance of The Environmental Protection Agency.
Residents can go to www.lacitysan.org or call 1-800-773-2489 for information on S.A.F.E. (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables/electronics) collection centers located from Central Los Angeles to East Valley to dispose their items.
“Mothers In Action is so grateful for our village. Our 4th Annual community clean-up was only successful because of the generosity and hard work of our members, staff, volunteers, community partners and sponsors,” states Tracy Mitchell, President of Mothers In Action. “We served over 650 community residents. Special thanks to Chairman of Bakewell Media, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Council President Herb Wesson, Copy City, Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce, ECWA, LA Conservation Corps (LACC), Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Watts Times, , Los Angeles Sanitation, Public Works, Shred-It USA and last, but certainly not least our visionary, the late Brenda Marsh-Mitchell. It is a blessing to be a blessing.”
“We will be partnering with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson of District 8 on June 24, 2017 from 9:00am – 3:00pm at Crenshaw Christian Center, 7901 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044 for the next Free Waste Drop Off & Paper Shredding Event. Please call (213) 485-7616 for more information. Hope to see you there!!!”
(Photo Courtesy by Mesiyah McGinnis)
