Los Angeles and the Environment
by The problems that confront our planet’s environment have received a lot of attention in recent years. Global warming, greenhouse gases, product recycling, energy conservation, fossil fuels, waste disposal and the pollution of our air, land and water have become key hot-button issues of our times.
Both President Barack Obama and California’s senator, Dianne Feinstein, list acting to combat climate change as a priority on their websites. The city of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas have a history of having to deal with environmental challenges.
Smog
The name smog comes from a combination the words smoke and fog. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this “brownish haze” which particularly affects cities in the summertime, is a type of air pollution that reduces visibility and can lead to breathing difficulties for some people. Smog is caused by the accumulation of certain air pollutants and in some cases is affected by sunlight and weather conditions. In Los Angeles, the frequency of warm, sunny days combined with the emissions from the large numbers of vehicles on our roads are among the reasons why the city became notorious for its smog. Other factors include the area’s industry and ports, and a lack of rain to wash the smog away. The city’s geography also contributes, as the surrounding mountains don’t allow the built up pollutants to drift away. The American Lung Association’s 2008 State of the Air Report ranks Los Angeles at the top of its list of the most polluted cities in terms of year-round particle pollution.
Storm Drains and the Los Angeles River
The Los Angeles storm drain system was designed to prevent flooding. A large number of curbside openings allow rain and runoff water from other sources to flow into a network of underground channels. From there, the water and any litter and pollutants that gather along with it join the Los Angeles River and make their way to the ocean. This runoff is not treated or filtered in any way before it reaches the coast. According to the City of Los Angeles Storm Water Program, numerous unusual objects have found their way into the storm drain system, including purses and wallets, a motorbike, car parts, mattresses, toys, shopping carts, sports balls and equipment, strollers and even a ping pong table. Friends of the Los Angeles River, a non-profit organization which was founded in 1986 to protect and restore the river, holds an annual clean up event. Volunteers gather at different locations along the river and work to remove some of the trash and other debris that pollutes it.
The Ocean
According to the Heal the Bay organization, the City of Los Angeles was using Santa Monica Bay as a place to dump barely treated sewage in the 1980s. This lead to health problems, not only for the marine animals that lived there but also for the people who would swim and surf in the bay’s waters. Heal the Bay began campaigning for improvements to the city’s sewage treatment system and for a safer and cleaner ocean. They currently hold “Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanups” on the third Saturday of every month. These events give volunteers an opportunity to help remove litter from some of the area’s dirtiest beaches.
Attempts to Move Toward a Greener Los Angeles
Many of the city’s residents and organizations are taking steps to help improve the condition of the environment.
The City of Los Angeles Environment
LA organization provides information about programs geared toward making this a more environmentally friendly city. Projects include the “Bring Your Own Bag Pledge”, which encourages shoppers to reduce waste by taking their groceries home in reusable bags instead of disposable plastic carriers. Los Angeles also has a recycling program that collects more than 240,000 tons of recyclable items each year, according to the city’s Bureau of Sanitation. The bureau’s website tells us that a Municipal Recycling Survey taken in March of 2009 ranked Los Angeles at number 1 in terms of recycling rates amongst the 10 largest cities in the United States.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power recently distributed compact fluorescent light bulbs to customers. According to the LADWP, these energy saving alternatives can last 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, as well as being more efficient and lower in emissions. Along with these free light bulbs, the LADWP handed out leaflets to the area’s residents. These provided information on issues such as alternative fuels and the importance of trees, as well as giving tips for conserving water and electricity.
Image via Wikipedia
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