2024 HHW and E-Waste Report

Lake Los Angeles – Annually in the spring or slightly before, Lake Los Angeles is the host for an e-waste and household hazardous waste roundup at Vista San Gabriel School student drive-through. Each year the community does an outstanding job of responding.

This year the event was held on Saturday. March 16. I was not able to attend to take pictures and witness the event, but the contractor provided me with the list of items properly disposed of at the roundup.

It should be noted that any electronic waste collected at these events is sent to a facility within the State of California that certifies it is 100% demanufactured and recycled to the commodity level in the United States. No electronic waste collected at the event is sent overseas.

The electronics are taken apart, precious metals removed, plastic sorted by color and then sold to the highest bidder. Wire, glass, plastics and all other materials get recycled. There is significant toxic waste in electronics as well.

While some electronics are recycled, many are discarded in landfills. Electronics are filled with chemicals and substances that are harmful to human health and the environment, including toxic metals, flame retardants and persistent organic pollutants. If not recycled, these chemicals can contaminate landfills and enter the water supply through leachate.

LLA has been setting astonishing records each year with the amount of harmful waste leaving our community. Each year, I file a report with Supervisor Barger to exhibit the need for this roundup and the volume of harmful waste that does not get illegally dumped in our desert and to keep the event coming to us each year.

A hearty thank you goes to all who participated, and we will host another HHW and E-Waste Roundup to set records again next year.

Please click on the attached graphics to see the list.

(Photo Prior Event)

By Shirley Harriman