[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6539421,"mediaKeyId","3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb","parentId",3646553,"title","Committee approves pilot for underground waste containers, directs funding and reporting steps","audioSeconds",244,"startMs",2882000,"endMs",3126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb&start=2882&end=3126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb/thumbnail_2882000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539421/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Committee-approves-pilot-for-underground-waste-containers-directs-funding-and-reporting-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539421-d50d76565bece46c9c1fa9af1f114b6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160104&Signature=GHnmEWgVOG7DNaut-MM0uldG-B8pM0ayINvh2WcpAZgnBDUiEFHBYVkOgwN1aPKcppB-Y5p1N3syhIMc2tB--WsIVrtRY-xd~z7Ud-E21YszWo8YP23~14Cq62F7stePeAUJ1AlateAx4Joop~6ISaRv22HYTUyR76C5VqlZrJyX7N7I5SN0Q1Btl5e9ErzjIoSTDDW8RZvboXzvyX6Cq~mKqR3r0IkRESpxhoKDdjYlitAomgSPLNFbBSyzGqtK1HQbBmz4JsaaId097cuLmjdSggit1Y1OdwCKlHETfl7qy3dFQ2agkHWuSI8dVMeNyBNBLK3QAUtrj7XvA8o49Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T04:43:07.867Z","article","The Energy and Environment Committee on June 3 approved a pilot program to test underground mechanized waste containers using technology from Nord Engineering, and directed LA Sanitation and the City Administrative Officer to pursue funding and contract negotiations.

Vincent Chow, an environmental engineering associate with LA Sanitation, described the technology and a renegotiated pilot proposal. Chow said the revised plan focuses on underground containers only and reduces the pilot cost from an initial $7.8 million estimate to $6.7 million. \"This new proposal will bring down the total expected cost of this pilot to $6,700,000,\" Chow said during his presentation.

What the pilot would include: LA Sanitation’s negotiated package would deploy 54 underground containers (organized as 18 sets of black/blue/green containers to collect trash, recyclables and organics) at identified sites including San Fernando Gardens, Nicholson Gardens, Pueblo Del Rio and MacArthur Park; Nord would supply an additional 36 containers and the specialized truck attachments. The revised proposal reduces vehicle purchases to a single compactor truck plus a washer truck and a backup compactor attachment.

Funding status and gaps: LA Sanitation reported contributions and potential external funding but said it currently lacks roughly $3.0 million needed to complete construction costs for the first phase. The department identified a potential $1.0 million from a SB 1383-related local assistance grant (cited in the discussion as CarryCycle / Recycle funding) and a vendor match from Nord of up to $2.0 million; Nord committed approximately $1.9 million in equipment and attachments under the negotiated offer. LA Sanitation said truck-chassis funding may be supported by existing truck bonds, leaving a construction funding gap of about $2.95 million.

Operational and program benefits described by staff included reduced odor and rodent pressure (because waste is stored underground and kept cooler), increased security that reduces scavenging of recyclables, and greater on-site capacity (one underground container can store the equivalent of multiple dumpsters), which could reduce collection rounds in high-density or constrained locations.

Council requests and directions: Multiple council members asked for additional details before or as part of the report-back. Requests the committee recorded included: an assessment of whether the pilot can help meet state-mandated waste benchmarks (SB 1383 compliance), a demobilization plan and costs if the pilot ends, an analysis of long-term cost savings and options for a smaller-scope pilot, and a requirement that LA San identify locations for the six unallocated container sets with priority for sites likely to be heavily used during the 2028 Olympics. A separate friendly motion asked LA Sanitation to continue negotiations with Nord to preserve the vendor’s approximately $1.9 million equipment match if other funding sources are not identified, and to report on the feasibility of extending the $1.0 million local-assistance grant.

Vendor involvement and maintenance: LA Sanitation staff said Nord has committed to perform maintenance and repairs during the pilot. Assistant General Manager Alex (last name not specified in the record) said the pilot term would allow the city to learn maintenance costs and operational needs and that general services would handle standard truck chassis repairs while Nord would handle the underground equipment during the pilot.

Outcome: The committee approved the report and the three motions tied to the pilot (directing staff to identify funding sources, negotiate a contract, preserve vendor match if needed, and report back annually) by roll call vote, 4-0 with one member absent. The department will return with the requested funding and operational information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Energy and Environment Committee - Jun 03, 2025 03:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Energy and Environment Committee approved a pilot using underground mechanized waste containers supplied by Nord Engineering, asked staff to identify remaining funding and locations (including Olympic sites), and requested several report-backs on costs, demobilization and potential long-term savings.","taxTitle","Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4025,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539425,"City of Los Angeles notes municipal greenhouse-gas progress but warns community-wide targets lag",624,1348000,1972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb&start=1348&end=1972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb/thumbnail_1348000.jpg","/articles/6539425/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/City-of-Los-Angeles-notes-municipal-greenhouse-gas-progress-but-warns-community-wide-targets-lag","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539425-d67a5556b6d1fe32f5702282cc671cf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160104&Signature=mwJgFE3b9S2L9KCcBGOAbgPjPedHoTmVTiE8qdaRaHkicmxS5PN-aLqsUzICoLwc~-e6xHe6wYD3uFHJSZijG8QBPXoMIwdxq99~0H4wLE7E1svfGXAgJjcKsFKCHzdWQDTtZJoZ9pxchFQFz8XwusVrS2EV-ZpliIuDpWmMR2Qt1zWU1ZtVB~RSkcdm-tcUDGiN2H90s-ZArUrYP5lUChEaiECVF3SKyv6p~c~zjo5GruiQd9daMh1HXA-ZlixrkUE71V2ESau-0fvBkVID0JVKfFrfuOpcPcbpwIbZ1fXOJPEqTnVyref4MUB8wETRcpukRam-A~ucoWdbIuaUxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy and Environment Committee on June 3 heard a Bureau of Sanitation update on Los Angeles' municipal and community greenhouse-gas (GHG) inventories and voted to note and file the report.

Laura McAllister and Daniel Brim of LA Sanitation’s Climate Action Group presented the city’s 2023 inventory results. McAllister said the municipal inventory is outperforming targets: “As of 2023 we are 8% ahead of our 2025 target to be 55% reduction of our 2008 baseline data.” Daniel Brim said the community inventory shows slower progress; the city had achieved a 33% reduction against the 2008 baseline while the 2025 community goal is a 50% reduction.

Why it matters: The municipal inventory covers city operations — city-owned vehicles, facilities and services — while the community inventory covers emissions geographically within the city boundary and reflects broader consumer and commercial activity that the city can influence but not directly control.

Presenters emphasized the different drivers behind municipal and community trends. McAllister and Brim credited fleet electrification and the city’s shift away from natural gas-fired power generation for municipal improvements; Brim highlighted the transition away from coal by LADWP and pandemic-related reductions in transportation as major factors in emissions declines. Brim told the committee the city’s most recent international CDP submission earned the highest grade: “the city of Los Angeles got an A on our most recent report,” making Los Angeles one of 29 U.S. cities with that score.

Committee members pressed staff on methodology and semantics used in reporting. Brim explained municipal inventories capture city-owned vehicles and equipment while the community inventory follows the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) and is reported at the basic level; the community inventory also tracks a broader set of scope 3 emissions in a separate reporting tier but does not use those for the headline target.

Outcome: The committee voted to note and file the Bureau of Sanitation report. The roll call showed four ayes with one member absent.","LA Sanitation presented municipal and community greenhouse-gas inventories showing the city's municipal emissions are ahead of 2025 targets while the broader community inventory lags; committee noted the report and voted to note-and-file.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6539430,"Los Angeles committee approves amended report-back on Cleanup Green Up program",753,460000,1213000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb&start=460&end=1213","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646553-3fbf0f6f9d1849a5f97196f00ef4d9cb/thumbnail_460000.jpg","/articles/6539430/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Los-Angeles-committee-approves-amended-report-back-on-Cleanup-Green-Up-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539430-80edd0d97fad1dc95d9540132e605107/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160104&Signature=Dx08LJE~zqT3rmGGYkTmfd5LwX2HXcKscJL~Sr1UIbNeN8PjwX3HmpbE63KqT8qC2tfUrJlfx3x4YpFAF3icGmsRNvMPCbmzzqoNHkIxPFaAF~vGxh18R4LlH4cvrPC4zZOnk8J-x8s1BlGwLk28-iv3gKMwaWsx8rtnJJm-3zJCEXnBWodG5wZttig7~UttK4wZkuc3R9gQiOgXWiCROcg78BK0hZXQdb~SBSWAEI0X-ydRkvwXciM9CiIR2PK-aPsi6wzSCJSK8sAXELfMOQJIa0JnWGOBxJbsxIJjBEMLfH-U9JiD-17g7kKg6ueOOveHzv0pGr5FtRN9QJ0ovQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy and Environment Committee of the City of Los Angeles on June 3 voted to approve an amended report-back on the Cleanup Green Up (CUGU) program, directing staff to provide a detailed evaluation of lessons learned and the resources needed to expand the program.

Committee Chair Council Member Adrienne Nazarian said the item would return with more analysis after the Department of City Planning and LA Sanitation complete their report-backs. Nazarian moved the amendment to specifically instruct the Department of City Planning to “include in their report back strategies to incorporate the regulations set forth in the CUGU ordinance in the development of community plans.” The motion passed 4-0 with Council Member Yaroslavsky absent.

Why it matters: Cleanup Green Up is a neighborhood-focused environmental justice policy aiming to reduce illegal dumping and industrial impacts in designated zones. Committee members asked for a report that goes beyond program descriptions to clarify interdepartmental workflows, enforcement roles and measurable outcomes for communities targeted by CUGU.

LA Sanitation representatives described work already underway. Melissa Plomondon, the city’s Cleanup Green Up ombudsperson, said the department has produced a draft report-back, delivered environmental justice training for sanitation employees, convened interdepartmental meetings, and developed outreach programs such as a “green talk” community showcase. \"We don't have it ready to release,\" Plomondon said, describing a draft environmental justice dashboard that will map tree planting, brownfields, vacant lots and illegal-dumping enforcement for public review and feedback.

Planning staff flagged cross-department coordination questions. Hagu Solomon Carey of the Department of City Planning said the ordinance was developed in the citywide bureau in 2015 and that planning is prepared to answer procedural questions in the requested report-back.

Committee additions and requests: Council Member Padilla and others asked staff to include in the report a definition of how planning currently classifies industrial uses in CUGU zones; a formal workflow with time targets among Planning, Department of Building and Safety (DBS) and LA Sanitation for CUGU case review; whether there is a centralized log or tracking system for CUGU cases; and recommendations to modernize or replace a cited zoning rule identified in the discussion as \"Z1-2355.\" Padilla also asked for an equity analysis to assess whether CUGU has measurably improved outcomes in Sun Valley, Pacoima, Wilmington and Boyle Heights and for an analysis of all CUGU cases implemented since the ordinance was enacted.

The committee asked that the report include potential legislative and procedural changes to strengthen CUGU, improved community notifications, business support mechanisms, clearer enforcement pathways involving DBS and any applicable local enforcement agencies (LEAs), plus an assessment of state-level regulatory changes such as CEQA that could affect implementation.

The item passed as amended. Committee staff will return with the requested report-back that consolidates the department updates and answers the procedural and equity questions raised by Council members.","The City of Los Angeles Energy and Environment Committee voted 4-0 (one member absent) to approve an amended report-back on the Cleanup Green Up (CUGU) program, directing planning and sanitation staff to provide a detailed evaluation, equity analysis and recommendations to strengthen implementation and enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves pilot for underground waste containers, directs funding and reporting steps

City of Los Angeles notes municipal greenhouse-gas progress but warns community-wide targets lag

Los Angeles committee approves amended report-back on Cleanup Green Up program