Smith Engages in Newspaper Debate over Trash

Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith attacks Supervisor Antonovich in the Letters to the Editor of the Daily News:

Re "Antonovich responds" (Your Opinions, April 13):

The city of Los Angeles diverts 62 percent of its waste from landfills, incorporating source separation, recycling, resource recovery, composting, mulching and beneficial reuse. The city is looking at conversion technologies to maximize recovery efforts and further divert resources from landfills while creating renewable, clean energy - all within our own borders.

The county unincorporated areas have achieved a dismal 31 percent diversion - far below the 50 percent state mandate. The county's plan for the future? To rail-haul a minuscule 8,000 of their 37,000 trash tons per day to a remote desert landfill on already clogged rail lines.

The county purchased Mesquite Canyon, in Imperial County, specifically to export its own trash. County officials have said that they will also consider truck transfer to Mesquite. Supervisor (Michael D.) Antonovich and L.A. County would rather stick their heads in the sand at the expense of all its residents than consider the alternatives to landfilling.

Greig Smith
Los Angeles city councilman

Let me make this simple for the Councilman. Do whatever you please with your garbage, bt DO NOT SEND IT to the Antelope Valley!!!