Wrightwood board presses for solutions on downtown recycling and dumpsters amid compliance push

Board members on June 2 discussed challenges getting downtown businesses into compliance with the district’s commercial recycling and mandatory solid‑waste ordinances (2019‑01, 2019‑02).

Interim General Manager Angela said CR&R has been proactive in contacting customers to upgrade recycling services, but a subset of downtown businesses remains noncompliant, often citing lack of space or the practical burden of moving dumpsters to alternative locations. CalRecycle staff recently toured the area and urged the district to document steps taken to bring accounts into compliance.

Board members and staff discussed a stepped approach: renewed outreach centered on solutions, exploring waivers when no feasible alternative exists, and pursuing beautification efforts (enclosed trash areas, murals and landscaping) that could relocate containers from sidewalks without reducing business capacity. Steve noted the importance of documenting correspondence, site visits and attempts to identify alternatives so waivers and enforcement decisions are defensible.

Several directors suggested raising the topic at the newly adopted strategic plan’s community planning bridge to convene property owners, CR&R, CalRecycle and other stakeholders to develop long‑term, coordinated solutions that balance compliance, business operations and downtown aesthetics.

Board members asked staff to coordinate with CR&R and CalRecycle and to prepare a community engagement plan for the next meeting.