One of L.A.'s most trashed neighborhoods is getting more trash cans

Los Angeles city officials are launching a new effort to clean up trash in often-littered Westlake and Pico-Union neighborhoods, including the “deployment” of dozens of new trash receptacles. 

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez (District 1) joined public works and sanitation managers in launching the Clean Streets initiative on Monday, which was National 311 Day: an unofficial holiday encouraging people to call 311 to report non-emergency issues.

“Pico-Union and Westlake are among the most densely populated areas in L.A. County, and for years, the allocation of resources and services to address trash and cleanliness in the area has lagged far behind the level of need,” said Hernandez.

The plan calls for 90 new trash bins along high foot traffic corridors like Vermont Avenue, Venice Boulevard, Washington and Alvarado streets, and surrounding MacArthur Park. They will be serviced six days a week, Monday through Saturday, officials said.

The rollout is expected to be completed within the next several days.

The neighborhood is also teaming up with community partners to address the issue of bulky items often left on sidewalks and alleys and other “illegal dumping that leave our communities with unsafe and unsanitary items blocking sidewalks, impeding the public right of way, and clogging up alleyways,” Hernandez said.

City leaders are encouraging Westlake and Pico-Union residents to report illegal dumping to 311 more often, and they plan to support the Clean Streets initiative with new signs and community outreach.