To: Councilmember Jose Huizar, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Council President Herb Wesson Jr., and Councilmember Joe Buscaino

Urge L.A. City Council to Clean Up Our Waste and Recycling System

I join thousands of residents and small businesses in the City of Los Angeles who urge you to vote, on Wednesday, November 14th, in favor of an exclusive franchise system for our commercial and multifamily waste and recycling.

Under the system we have, too many Angelenos are unable to recycle in our workplaces or apartments, and as a result we continue to feed our landfills at alarming rates. There are too many dirty trucks in our neighborhoods, polluting our air, and creating potholes and gridlock. The people who pick up and sort our trash are forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. In fact, some have been injured – or even killed - because companies cut corners and are not held accountable for the safety of their workers.

The exclusive franchise called for by the Don’t Waste LA coalition would bring standards and accountability to our system and result in cleaner air, safer jobs, fair rates and recycling for all Angelenos. The Rates Through The Roof plan called for by the CAO and waste companies will not only cost Angelenos who want to recycle, but it will fail to protect our neighborhoods, our environment and the people who provide a vital service to our city.

Please vote YES on an exclusive waste franchise for Los Angeles!

Why is this important?

L.A.’s landfills are overflowing, half our city can’t recycle and dirty waste trucks are polluting our communities.

All this can change – but only if you demand that city leaders take action.

They need to hear from you, because waste companies, landlords, big business and their lobbyists that make a killing off our current dirty system are doing everything they can to prevent change.

A majority of our councilmembers already have pledged their support for the solution that’s best for Los Angeles. But the pressure is on, and there are five council members who need to hear from all of us before November 14.

Please tell City Councilmembers Tom LaBonge, Paul Krekorian, Herb Wesson, Joe Buscaino and Jose Huizar to vote YES on an exclusive franchise for L.A.’s commercial and multifamily waste system.

It's up to us to ensure that special interests don’t bully our city leaders against moving ahead and doing the right thing.