By Clyde Noel

The new Expanded Business Recycling program in the Los Altos business district has been in place two months and things are looking cleaner.

Loose piles of cardboard and garbage were an eyesore for visitors and business neighbors and complaints were registered at Los Altos City Hall. In response, a new recycling program was started Jan. 1 by the Los Altos Garbage Company (LAGO).

In the past, LAGO employees picked up loose piles of cardboard from the streets and sidewalks. As of Jan. 31, LAGO no longer collects the loose piles placed outside the containers.

“The city was very supportive to eliminate the unsightly problem and helped start the new recycling program,” said Bill Jones, executive director of the LAGO “In the two months it has been in use, a lot of businesses have signed up for the program and we have received no complaints.”

A series of white, metal containers, featuring slots to insert mixed paper and flattened cardboard with locked lids, were placed throughout downtown.

On the back of each collection area were signs posted with addresses that can use the dumpster. Anyone unauthorized using the dumpster will be reported to the city’s code enforcement officer to enforce the anti-litter ordinance.

“The South Plaza looks much cleaner since the program started.” said Ken Anderson of Los Altos Camera.

The new program adds mixed paper, junk mail, phone books and colored paper to the program. Additional recycling programs are available from LAGO.

“Business people are beginning to get into what they can put in the bins and are using them more,” Jones said. “There is a definite improvement.”

Sixty-four and 96 gallon toters are available, and each is marked with unacceptable items. Cardboard containers are available in 1.5-yard to 8-yard containers. LAGO has placed containers in 18 locations behind downtown businesses in the North Plaza, Central Plaza and South Plaza.

The shared containers are serviced up to five times each week, based on usage or customer request.