Supervisor Don Knabe today called upon federal and state legislators to amend decades-old laws and regulations to encourage the development of innovative conversion technologies in Los Angeles County, as an alternative to landfills.

Through conversion technologies, trash that would get dumped in a landfill would be converted into fuels and energy sources. For example, the 8 million tons of waste sent to landfills by County residents and businesses each year could potentially produce over half a billion gallons of renewable biofuels.

“Conversion technologies are critical to ensuring the County’s ability to manage its waste in the future, thereby protecting public health and safety, and the environment,” Supervisor Knabe said. “Yet many companies have decided not to pursue projects here due to uncertainty created by California’s outdated regulations.”

For years, cities and counties in California have led the way in recycling and waste reduction. But, while LA County’s award-winning programs have resulted in one of the highest recycling rates in the nation, there continues to be a substantial amount of residual waste remaining.

Supervisor Knabe said conversion technologies are already successfully operating in 28 countries worldwide but California laws written over two decades ago only envisioned trash being buried or burned.

“They did not account for these sophisticated technologies being able to recover products and fuels from trash and erroneously consider them equivalent to landfills and incinerators, thus creating barriers to their development,” Supervisor Knabe said.

“We must seize the opportunity and continue to lead in this effort, working diligently with State officials and legislators, other municipalities, scientists, industry representatives, and other key stakeholders to modernize State and Federal law and regulation to support, rather than discourage, these promising technologies,” he added.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe directed the Department of Beaches and Harbors to re-write the section of the County’s recently adopted beach ordinance to clarify the section on ball and Frisbee playing at the beach.

“While the intent of the updated beach ordinance was to remove limitations on ball-playing, people interpreted it as the exact opposite – a full restriction on beach activities,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “I appreciate the Director of Beaches and Harbors clarifying the ordinance at our meeting today,  but I am concerned that a misunderstanding will continue.  We must do a better job of creating clear communications to minimize confusion like we had on this one when incorrect information went viral.”

Supervisor Knabe is directing the Director of Beaches and Harbors to rewrite the ordinance in a manner that clearly states that such activities by small groups and individuals are allowed on the County beach, unless directed otherwise by the County Lifeguard or other designees to protect public safety and enjoyment of the beach.

Leaked from cars and trucks or dumped illegally into storm drains, motor oil can be a troublesome source of storm water pollution. To encourage Los Angeles County residents to dispose of their used motor oil for free at local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events, the County of Los Angeles and ESPN LA have joined forces and formed “Team Clean LA.”

Starting now, and continuing every Saturday throughout the month of February, Los Angeles County residents can enter to win a VIP night, complete with limousine service, dinner for two at L.A. Live and tickets to a basketball game at Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. To enter the Team Clean LA sweepstakes, residents will need to bring their used oil products to one of the following HHW collection events. The events are held, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 1/28/12 – City of Hermosa Beach, Clark Stadium
Valley Drive between 8th and 11th Streets Hermosa Beach 90806

2/4/12 –   City of Claremont, Claremont Corporate Yard
1616 Monte Vista Avenue, Claremont 91711

2/11/12 – City of Gardena, Hitco Carbon Composites
1551 West 139th Street, Gardena 90249

2/18/12 – City of Diamond Bar, Gateway Corporate Center
1300 Block of Bridge Gate Drive Diamond Bar 91765

2/25/12 – Marina Del Rey
Dock 52 Parking Lot, Fiji Way Marina Del Rey 90292

County residents can also dispose of other toxic automotive and household products, including brake fluid, paint and paint thinner, household cleansers, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, pool chemicals, oil filters, expired medication, antifreeze, fluorescent light bulbs and sharps (syringes and needles). Household electronic waste, known as e-Waste, is also welcome.

For more information on future HHW Collection events, visit www.cleanla.com, follow us on Twitter @CleanLA, or call (888) Clean LA.

In honor of Veterans Day, all veterans with proper military identification will receive a fifty percent discount on green fees (excluding tournament play) all day on Friday, November 11.

“As Veterans Day approaches, it is important that we recognize the many contributions that Veterans have made for our great County over the years,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “This is a small way that we can honor our veterans on this special day and thank them for the many freedoms we enjoy today.”

For more information on “Veterans Appreciation Day” contact your local County golf course.

Los Angeles County Golf Courses

Alondra Golf Course: (310) 217-9919

Altadena Golf Course: (626) 797-3821

Diamond Bar Golf Course: (909) 861-8282

Eaton Canyon Golf Course: (626) 794-6773

El Cariso Golf Course: (818) 367-6157

Maggie Hathaway Golf Course: (323) 755-6285

Knollwood Golf Course: (818) 363-1810

Lakewood Golf Course: (562) 429-9711

La Mirada Golf Course: (562) 943-7123

Los Amigos Golf Course: (562) 869-0302

Los Verdes Golf Course: (310) 377-7370

Marshall Canyon Golf Course: (909) 593-8211

Mountain Meadows Golf Course: (909) 623-3704

Santa Anita Golf Course: (626) 447-2331

Victoria Golf Course: (310) 323-4174

Chester Washington Golf Course: (323) 756-6975

Whittier Narrows Golf Course: (626) 288-1044

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Education is providing approximately 220,000 free lunches and snacks to children in 47 County parks beginning this week.

This health-focused program was created to provide a healthy alternative for children during the summer months and to reduce the growing percentage of obese youth in the United States.

The program, available to children ages 18 and under, will take place at scheduled times daily Monday through Friday. Lunches and snacks will include sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and healthy dairy products such as milk, string cheese and yogurt.

For more information contact your local County park:

Adventure Park
10130 S. Gunn Ave., Whittier 90605
(562) 698-7645
Lunch: 11 am to 12 noon
Snack: 4 pm to 5 pm

Amigo Park
5700 S. Juarez Ave., Whittier 90606
(562) 908-4702
Lunch: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Snack: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Carolyn Rosas Park
18500 E. Farjardo St., Rowland Heights 91748
(626) 854-5557
Lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Snack: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Manzanita Park
1747 S. Kwis Ave., Hacienda Heights 91745
(626) 336-6246
Lunch: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Snack: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Rowland Heights Park
1500 S. Banida Ave., Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 612-6774
Lunch: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Snack: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

William Steinmetz Park
1545 S. Stimson Ave., Hacienda Heights 91745
(626) 855-5383
Lunch: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Snack: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

In a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe, July 2011 has been declared “Junior Golfers Appreciation Month” throughout Los Angeles County, and to salute the County’s young golfers, green fees have been reduced to $1.

During the month of July, at all 17 County golf courses, junior golfers (18 and under) can play golf for $1, after 12:00 p.m., when accompanied with a regular adult fee, senior fee, twilight fee or super-twilight fee.  In addition, each golf course will hold a free “Special Skills Day” including activities such as free lessons, clinics, skills challenge contests, and other such events that will improve and promote junior golf participation.

“Youth sports programs have traditionally been valuable recreational activities for the young residents of Los Angeles County.  Not only do they offer an opportunity for kids of all ages to learn new physical, social, and mental skills, but youth sports also serve as a crime deterrent,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “This is a great way for us to show our appreciation to all of our junior golfers who use our County golf courses.

For more information on “Junior Golfers Appreciation Month” contact your local County golf course.

Los Angeles County Golf Courses

Alondra Golf Course: (310) 217-9919
Altadena Golf Course: (626) 797-3821
Diamond Bar Golf Course: (909) 861-8282
Eaton Canyon Golf Course: (626) 794-6773
El Cariso Golf Course: (818) 367-6157
Maggie Hathaway Golf Course: (323) 755-6285
Knollwood Golf Course: (818) 363-1810
Lakewood Golf Course: (562) 429-9711
La Mirada Golf Course: (562) 943-7123
Los Amigos Golf Course: (562) 869-0302
Los Verdes Golf Course: (310) 377-7370
Marshall Canyon Golf Course: (909) 593-8211
Mountain Meadows Golf Course: (909) 623-3704
Santa Anita Golf Course: (626) 447-2331
Victoria Golf Course: (310) 323-4174
Chester Washington Golf Course: (323) 756-6975
Whittier Narrows Golf Course: (626) 288-1044

Attention Shoppers! Starting July 1, 2011, carryout plastic bags will be history in stores located in unincorporated Los Angeles County! Bring your reusable bags every time you shop to avoid a 10 cent charge for paper bags.

Staff from the Department of Public Works will be on hand at several Fourth District supermarkets to hand out canvas bags on a first-come first- serve basis from 10:00am to 3:00pm. For more information, visit About the Bag.

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a ban on single-use carryout bags at all grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and drug stores located in the County’s unincorporated areas.  As part of its approval, the Board supported an amendment by Supervisor Knabe which revised the definition of “reusable bag” to include language that a reusable bag can be cleaned or disinfected, not just machine washable.

“While I support the elimination of single-use bags, if there is going to be a ban, I believe it should be done at a statewide level, as the Board previously supported in AB 1998,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.  “Rather than being punitive, we should provide incentives to encourage businesses to develop creative, green solutions, and therefore jobs, to our environmental challenges.  That is why I asked for a change in language to today’s motion to ensure that we did not exclude many locally-owned manufacturing plants from producing reusable carryout bags.  There are many types of materials that can be used to manufacture reusable bags, and we should not limit their use because they are not machine washable.”

In honor of Veterans Day, admission fees and vehicle entrance fees have been waived to the regional park facilities on November 6-13, 2010, for Veterans and their families.  The motion, introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe, was unanimously approved today by the Board of Supervisors.  This fee waiver follows on Supervisor Knabe’s earlier motion for a fifty percent discount off greens fees for Veterans at County golf courses on November 11, which was approved earlier this month.

“On Veterans Day we pay tribute to the sacrifice of the men and women in our military who have courageously served our country and protected the many freedoms we enjoy today,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We also owe a debt of gratitude to their families, who share in this sacrifice and who truly deserve the honor and respect of their fellow Americans.”

All Veterans, military personnel and their immediate families are invited to visit the following Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation facilities from November 6 through November 13, 2010, free of charge with proper identification:

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park

120 Via Verde Drive

San Dimas

(909) 599-8411

Castaic Lake Recreation Area

32132 Castaic Lake Drive

Castaic

(661) 257-4050

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

4100 North La Cienega Boulevard

Los Angeles

(323) 298-3660

Santa Fe Dam Regional Park

15501 East Arrow Highway

Irwindale

(626) 334-1065

Schabarum Park

17250 East Colima Road

Rowland Heights

(626) 854-5560

Whittier Narrows Regional Recreation Area

750 South Santa Anita Avenue

South El Monte

(626) 575-5526

Arboretum of Los Angeles County

301 North Baldwin Avenue

Arcadia

(626) 821-3212

Descanso Gardens

1418 Descanso Drive

La Canada Flintridge

(818) 952-4400

South Coast Botanic Garden

26300 Crenshaw Boulevard

Palos Verdes Peninsula

(310) 544-6815

Virginia Robinson Gardens

(310) 276-5367

By appointment only

Los Angeles County Golf Courses

All veterans with proper military identification will receive a fifty percent discount on green fees (excluding tournament play) all day on Thursday, November 11:

Alondra Golf Course: (310) 217-9919

Altadena Golf Course: (626) 797-3821

Diamond Bar Golf Course: (909) 861-8282

Eaton Canyon Golf Course: (626) 794-6773

El Cariso Golf Course: (818) 367-6157

Maggie Hathaway Golf Course: (323) 755-6285

Knollwood Golf Course: (818) 363-1810

Lakewood Golf Course: (562) 429-9711

La Mirada Golf Course: (562) 943-7123

Los Amigos Golf Course: (562) 869-0302

Los Verdes Golf Course: (310) 377-7370

Marshall Canyon Golf Course: (909) 593-8211

Mountain Meadows Golf Course: (909) 623-3704

Santa Anita Golf Course: (626) 447-2331

Victoria Golf Course: (310) 323-4174

Chester Washington Golf Course: (323) 756-6975

Whittier Narrows Golf Course: (626) 288-1044