Lynn Schenkman

Sacramento -- The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) is planning to fine the city of Gardena in Los Angeles County $70,000 for failing to meet a state-mandated 50 percent diversion goal. The Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 requires cities, counties and regional agencies to divert 50 percent of their municipal solid waste from landfills each year, beginning in 2000. The fine, the first the board has levied for not meeting diversion quotas, follows three years of offering Gardena state assistance, according to the board. CIWMB is asking Gardena to "step and join the rest of the state in diverting materials from the waste stream to protect the environment and create a future where zero waste is more than just an idea — it’s a reality."