The Region - News from Sept. 20, 1987

A city report has recommended that all Los Angeles residents separate newspapers, glass and cans from household garbage. The report, prepared by the Bureau of Sanitation, estimated that the program, to begin in two years, would cost an initial $7.1 million plus $7.6 million annually. Recycling, which was abandoned in Los Angeles in the early 1960s, has received renewed interest in the City Council because the city’s landfills are filling up and city plans to burn trash have been dropped because of health concerns. The city collects 6,500 tons of household trash a day from 716,000 homes and small apartment units. In addition to the trash recycling, bureau Director Delwin Biagi also recommended a mandatory program within seven years for recycling yard clippings and other materials to be used for soil fertilizer and a push to encourage private businesses to begin recycling programs.