By Mary O’KEEFE

The ewaste collection that has been advertised via banners around town (above) has been canceled due to filing issues with the state of California.

The green banners seen around Crescenta Valley, including La Cañada Flintridge, invited the community to bring any electronic waste like computers, televisions or anything with a circuit board to the Big Lots parking lot in La Cañada on Saturday. The ewaste fundraiser supported the Kids of America organization out of San Diego.

“We are trying to come up [to the Los Angeles County] area,” said Mike Hagstrom, consultant for the non-profit and event coordinator.

Hagstrom said the organization does not have a 501c3 status, although he said it had applied for non-profit status. It currently works under the Heartland Coalition’s status. The Kids of America is, according to its website, an organization that helps kids save their money. It is not connected to any non-profit organization in the area.

The City of La Cañada Flintridge pulled the permit after discovering an issue with the California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control.

“Our folks checked and they found [Greenview  Resource Management] filed yesterday and we require a 30 day filing,” said Tamma Adamek, spokesperson for the Dept. of Toxic Substances Control.

Kids of America partners with Greenview in the ewaste fundraiser.

“We were doing our due diligence and found Greenview Resource, [which] is doing the collection, did not have the proper notice,” said Goytia Strauss, senior analysis for the City of La Cañada Flintridge.

Residents who had ewaste ready to dispose of and live within the Glendale area can contact the city’s Public Works Integrated Management.

“We provide one of the most innovative electronic waste collections,” said Mario Nunez, administrator for Public Works Integrated Management.

The service is free and available weekly. Residents who have electronic waste can call the city at (818) 548-3916 to request pick up or visit recycle.com. Businesses can drop their electronic waste at the office at 540 Chevy Chase. The office is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Glendale residents that need to dispose of toxic materials like paint and batteries, can do so, also free of charge, at the Glendale Environmental Management Center at 780 Flower St. in Glendale. They are open on Wednesday and Saturday from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For those in La Cañada Flintridge, contact Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 or visit
www.athensservices.com.

For those in the unincorporated area of Los  Angeles County-La Crescenta, visit
www.republicservices.com or contact (800) 299-4898,

  Mary Okeefe