S IGNA L T R I BU N E Countdown to the new year!
Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill VOL. XL NO. 1
Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
December 29, 2017
Taking out the trash
As Chinese markets impose waste restrictions, EDCO officials urge residents to recycle conscientiously. Sebastian Echeverry Staff Writer
It seems residents will have to closely observe what items get dumped into blue recycling bins now that Asian recycling markets are not accepting contaminated waste, according to EDCO Disposal officials. A contaminated recyclable item, according to John Snyder, EDCO’s vice president and chief analytics officer, is any non-reusable waste that is tossed into a recycling-only bin. It can be food waste, soiled paper or green waste. Snyder said that a substantial amount of the recyclables generated in California, including in Signal Hill, are shipped to foreign markets, mostly Asia. Nearly 60 percent of recyclables generated in California are exported to China and other Asian countries, according to an EDCO press release. For years, nations across the globe shipped waste items to Asia, specifically China. In July, Chinese officials told the World Trade Organization that their country will no longer accept imports of 24 categories of solid waste, as part of a campaign against “foreign garbage.”
Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune
In July, Chinese officials told the World Trade Organization that their country will no longer accept imports of 24 categories of solid waste, as part of a campaign against “foreign garbage.” EDCO Disposal services is asking residents to be more aware of the recycling guidelines in their communities due to tighter waste restrictions imposed by the Asian country.
Recyclables are treated as commodities, fueled by supply and demand, and the price is valued based on weighted materials– usually per ton. “For instance, mixed paper, which would once sell for $160 to $170 per ton, is selling today for less than $50 because of the difficulty of moving it, and the lack of demand with China not being in the game anymore,” Snyder said.
According to a 2014 report assembled by the nonprofit International Solid Waste Association, between 2006 and 2012, plastic waste imports in China increased from 5.9 metric tons to 8.9 metric tons– or 19621.1 pounds. “China, which is the biggest consumer of recyclables in the world, has not only eliminated accepting some types of recyclable materials but also see RECYCLING page 15
CJ Dablo Staff Writer
While it will be legal for many regulated businesses throughout the state of California to sell cannabis after Jan. 1, 2018, retail outlets selling recreational pot still won’t be welcomed in Long Beach. Last week, the Long Beach City Council unanimously voted in favor of an urgency ordinance that continues a moratorium on the sale of recreational marijuana. The Dec. 19 moratorium is set to last for 180 days, according to the City of Long Beach website.
The action favoring the moratorium is consistent with the city leaders’ previous decision to prevent the recreational pot shops from operating in Long Beach. In November, the council passed the temporary ban on sales of recreational marijuana. At the same time, city leadership provided specific directions for the city manager to develop recommendations for regulations on businesses that plan to sell recreational pot. The 180-day ban also allows time for the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance on the recreational-pot industry. Although entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in recreational-pot retail outlets can’t legally set up shop in the city, those individuals with a business license for a medsee MARIJUANA page 10
Pet of the week:
Obie
A gift that will keep on giving Rotary Club of Signal Hill member Charles Parks donates $50,000 property to foundation. Anita W. Harris
New year, new competition Recreational-pot sales still banned in Long Beach, but medicinal-cannabis shops have an edge.
Courtesy Charles Parks
Rotary Club of Signal Hill member Charles Parks, who recently donated $50,000 in property to The Rotary Foundation
Staff Writer
J
CJ Dablo | Signal Tribune
Adam Hijazi, co-owner of the Long Beach Green Room, opens a jar of marijuana buds at his dispensary. The city’s first legal shop to sell medical cannabis opened earlier this fall. While sales of recreational marijuana are still banned in Long Beach, some retail outlets offering medical cannabis are already in the process of earning business licenses through a rigorous process with the City.
ust in time for the gifting season, Long Beach resident and Rotary Club of Signal Hill member Charles Parks donated $50,000 worth of property to The Rotary Foundation. According to Carol Churchill, who is on the foundation committee of the Rotary Club of Signal Hill, Parks’s donation, along with a $150,000 securities donation by member Robert Long in 2013, has contributed over $200,000 to The Rotary Foundation’s perpetual fund. “I would bet it’s the largest donation from just a few people in the club,” she said in a phone interview with the Signal Tribune. While the Rotary Club of Signal Hill currently has 38 members, its
Three-year-old Obie will be the unique party guest on New Year’s Eve. Instead of a black tuxedo and white shirt and hankie, he’s opted for a fashionable gray-andwhite tux with black tails, and black details on his cute little ears! He came in to the shelter as a stray, but he’s friendly, gentle, relaxed—and curious! He’s neutered as well. He’ll be great to chill with after the celebration—you know what they say about a little hair of the dog being good for you! Meet Obie at Long Beach Animal Care Services on the shelter side of the P.D. Pitchford Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, (562) 570PETS. Ask for ID#A600878. (The usual suspects contributed to this rescue)
S IGNA L T R I BU N E
nonprofit parent organization Rotary International has 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs worldwide, according to its website. Rotary’s primary goals are to: promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education; and grow local economies. The Signal Hill chapter has focused primarily on supporting education through an annual school-supplies-in-backpacks program. This year, they contributed $30,000 in school supplies in 2,100 backpacks, donated from local businesses such as Costco, and assembled in August by volunteers working at the police station. “We have a good time,” Churchill said about the weeklong effort. Churchill said the club also contributes two members every two weeks to help distribute brownbag lunches to shut-in seniors. Club members are also active in other municipal activities, such as see ROTARY page 7