BRADLEY LANDFILL CLOSED AT LAST RECYCLING CENTER EYED FOR LOCATION.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM

Staff Writer

SUN VALLEY -- There were cheers and a small sense of satisfaction among Sun Valley residents Saturday as garbage trucks roared into the Bradley Landfill for the last time, marking the closure of the 50-year-old trash dump.

Waste Management, Bradley's owners, had abandoned expansion plans and decided against extending the landfill's permits, which also expired Saturday.

Instead, the company will now pursue plans for a fully enclosed transfer and recycling center that would be the San Fernando Valley's largest.

"We made a commitment to the residents," said Douglas Corcoran, Waste Management director of operations. "We want to make Sun Valley a better place."

Corcoran said the more than 250 landfill employees will still have jobs, but operations will now be focused on hauling in dirt over the next year to cover the existing landfill.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas, who represents the area, called the landfill's closure historic and a victory for Sun Valley, which he said has borne the brunt of landfills ever since residents began moving into the San Fernando Valley.

"The community of Sun Valley has been heard," Cardenas said as he stood in front of local children who carried hand-painted signs that read "That's All Folks" and "Good-bye Bradley Landfill."

"Bradley has served the community well, but in my opinion, it's old technology, an old way to deal with trash," he said. "As long as I am on the City Council, I am not going to be approving any more trash landfills in Sun Valley."

Cardenas said he is ready to explore new technology to handle trash and has allocated $100,000 to conduct a study of Sun Valley residents to see if they're prepared for, and aware of, recycling.

The councilman also will focus on the proposed 100,000-square-foot transfer and recycling center, he said.

In a community meeting in February, residents seemed opposed to the plan, arguing that the landfill would create further health risks if it becomes a recycling center.

While some residents who appeared at the landfill's closing were happy, they emphasized that more is needed in the community to reduce unhealthy air. Sun Valley is home to hundreds of industries.

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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Councilman Tony Cardenas, joined by Sun Valley residents, talks about closure Saturday of the Bradley landfill in Sun Valley.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News