Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste And Recycling topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Athens Services outlines new Irwindale recycling facility, local pickup rules and upcoming cleanups
Summary
Athens Services told the Norwalk City Council on Feb. 4 that a new 155,000-square-foot material recovery facility will come online soon, described this year’s waste-diversion totals and reminded residents about bulky-item pickup, battery safety and community drop-off events.
Athens Services representatives told the Norwalk City Council on Feb. 4 that the company will open a new material recovery facility and reviewed recent local service statistics, pickup rules and community events.
The presentation, led by Iso Nakasato, Athens’ director of community affairs, and Brian Ortiz, a route supervisor, outlined a new Irwindale facility described as about 155,000 square feet and capable of processing roughly 70 tons per hour. “We’re actually putting it back into the industry and try to recycle it,” Nakasato said, summarizing the facility’s goal to divert material from landfills and return it to manufacturing streams.
Nakasato gave the council a year-in-review of Athens’ work in Norwalk: the company reported diverting about 57,000 tons of solid waste from landfills in the past year, collecting about 17 tons of Christmas trees, and handling roughly 37 tons of bulky-item pickups. He said the company distributed mulch and compost through community giveaways and supports local events and youth programming.
The presentation included operational reminders for residents: single-family homes are eligible for up to five large-item pickups per week; multifamily properties have 12 pickups per year coordinated through property managers. Nakasato emphasized safety precautions: “Please do not put batteries in the trash can,” he said, explaining that compacting batteries in trucks can spark fires and that drivers are trained to respond when those incidents occur.
Athens announced two community events on the flyer shown to the council: a cleanup at 11688 Alondra Boulevard (described as “Saturday, the nineteenth”) and a compost-and-mulch giveaway on May 17 at the same location. Nakasato provided a QR code and encouraged residents to contact Athenscustomer service or visit AthensService.com for scheduling and questions.
City Manager Jesus Gomez introduced the presentation and thanked the Athens representatives. Council members acknowledged Athens’ local partnerships and outreach.
Community members and staff may contact Athens Services through the company website for bulky-item scheduling, to report safety concerns, or to get details about the announced events.
