In what has been claimed as a great victory for city regulators and community watchdogs, three companies in a highly industrial corner of the northeast San Fernando Valley committed to landscape their properties and enclose their trash-sorting operations to control odors and dust. Residents in Sun Valley, Calif., fought to have the odors that drifted from the recycling and refuse companies reduced. Other companies are considering improvements as well.

Sun Valley Paper Stock agreed to construct a 12,000-sq. foot building, complete with demisters for dust and equipment to control odors as it handles material. Meanwhile, American Waste, which collects and recycles construction debris and wood, agreed to enclose its operations and install solar panels on the roof.

"We're not anti-business. We're just anti-degradation of the area. We just want to make sure whatever businesses go in and expand are doing so and enhancing the community and not to the detriment of the community," said Ellen Mackey with the East Valley Coalition and One-LA

Recycling activities in the area have been growing rapidly. The city of Los Angeles launched a campaign to encourage residents to reuse up to 70 percent of their trash, and recycling companies are expanding to meet the anticipated efforts. Local officials have discussed placing a per-ton fee to be used in funding street lights, health clinics, or otherwise enhancing the local community.