A press conference, June 12, kicked off a new recycling effort with 12 sparkling-clean blue bins for glass, plastic bottles and aluminum cans, “clean” paper, and other metals and plastics. Appearing were Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, Venice Neighborhood Council President Mike Newhouse, and various officials from Chrysalis Enterprises, which will collect the recyclables. 

Once you toss your trash in these bins, its gone forever since the bins are locked, in contrast to the existing bins which will now hold only non-recyclable trash, according to the plan outlined today.

There was confusion about how Chrysalis would be paid, how many times it would empty the bins and even how many bins had been placed along the Walk. Neil Guglielmo, Director of the city’s Sanitation Dept. recycling program, who was not at the press conference, later told the Beachhead that the funding for the bins was from Senate Bill 332, which provides grant money to the city in the amount of $1 million per year through the state Dept. of Conservation.

According to a city official, the bins – called “multi-sort warriors” – cost $786 each plus tax.

Patrick Shandrick, a Chrysalis spokesperson, told the Beachhead that his organization would be compensated from the proceeds of the recycled trash. Bill Rosendahl said the proceeds would go to the city’s general fund, however, he later said he could be mistaken. Newhouse said the city would subsidize Chrysalis for their trash pickups. 

A city official said the bins, which can be found every two or three blocks beginning at the Santa Monica border, would be picked up daily. However, Shandrick said the bins would be serviced twice a week. 

Newhouse, who said there were 11 bins, credited the VNC with getting the bins placed in Venice. He said there is still funding for placing 50-55 more bins on Rose Ave., Abbot Kinney Blvd. and Washington Blvd. Shandrick said Chrysalis is working to get the program expanded beyond Rosendahl’s Council District 11. Rosendahl wants to expand the program to Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Westwood.

It’s a win-win program for nearly everyone. But the homeless who live around the beach and rely on the collection of cans and bottles to buy food have just had their lunch money taken away. For now, the only way to help the homeless get a meal, other than through panhandling, is to put your cans and bottles in the old receptacles where they can be recycled the old fashioned way.

Meanwhile, your money will be recycled downtown ever faster with “pay stations” soon replacing the parking meters in Venice.