Council Denies Recycling Center Permit

The voted against a resolution that would allow a recycling collection facility to operate at a parking lot of a shopping center located at 3223 Firestone Boulevard.  The council was particularly not pleased about the placing of the small beige portable recycling structure prior to their approval.

“I was surprised that they put up the location with out the permit,” said South Gate Mayor Bill De Witt.

The council also appeared to take side with the accusations made by , the shopping center’s largest tenant, which insisted that collection facility was already operating.

“Last week it was up and running,” said Frank Aguirre, community relations for Bodega Latina, the company that operates El Super, which opposes the recycling facility.  “We were told that they were not suppose to operate.”

Aguirre also provided the council with pictures that allegedly showed people bringing their recyclable materials to the site. This was an accusation that was denied by the representatives of the recycling center.

“It is not operating,” said Karo Marg, an operational manager for the owner of the owner of the recycling site, Minas Chirishyan, who owns several other recycling sites throughout Los Angeles County. “Some people tried to bring cans, local people and neighbors, but we are not taking them.”

Councilmember was not pleased with the situation. Expressing that he was concerned about the rumors that the site was operating, and that it had an employee stationed at the facility.

“Why would you have an employee there if it is not operational?” asked Gonzalez. “It seems to me a bit weird.”

Representatives of the recycling business admitted that they currently had an employee manning the facility. However, they insisted that the person was there doing preparation work.  

“The employee was there to get the kiosk and recycling center ready for the inspection,” said Alex Sarkisyan, another manager representing the collection facility. “There was additional assembling that needed to be done and some painting.”

appeared in large numbers expressing their concerns over the potential negative externalities that could arise from this facility.  Citing parking issues and the presence of pests among the latter concerns. 

“I believe this business will bring cockroaches and rats,” said Jesus Marquez, who claimed to own a property near the recycling facility. “ There will also be problems with the parking so I ask that this business not be done.”

The portable recycling structure sits atop three parking spaces at the shopping center. The facility is closest to State Street then to its official Firestone Boulevard address. 

Maria Chavez, a 26 year resident and homeowner in State Street, was also not happy about the presence of this business. Insisting that the trash situation in her street is already bad because of the businesses that currently operate in the area.

“For me it is hard because we are cleaning everyday and every hour,” said Chavez. “[We] are picking up the trash from El Super and every store that is over there.”

The South Gate City Council 4 out of 5 in favor of denying the resolution that would grant the permit. Vice-Mayor Gil Hurtado was absent from this vote due to illness.

The recycling facility, which will focus on plastics, They also obtained the endorsement of the planning commission for a permit after a second try and some

Steve Lefever, Director of Community Development, has also confirmed to Patch that the facility had met all of the city’s standards.

Nevertheless, residents and business owners are still concerned that the recycling center will make things bad for everyone.

The City Council will vote on a resolution denying the permit on July 24^th. Opposing and supporting parties are expected to show up again to push their case. Chirishyan, the owner of the facility, was not happy with the decision.

“At this point I am going to have my attorney decide,” said Chirishyan after the meeting in a brief interview with South Gate Patch Latino.  Further adding that he had already spent over $80,000 on this facility. “I am going to show them all the papers and photos I have.”

Marg claimed that this decision was not fair, and that legal counsel would be consulted because their was no other choice.

“They have put us in this situation,” said Marg.  “It is unfair.”

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