La Jollan Cynthia Chasan attended February’s Promote La Jolla (PLJ) meeting in an effort to solicit aid from the business improvement district after the City of San Diego rallied to save trash pickup costs by removing 14 beachside garbage cans. “It’s a public safety hazard that causes bacteria buildup when the trash washes down to the ocean. It’s a health issue,” Chasan said. The La Jolla coastal resident traveled to areas missing trashcans and snapped photos of their replacements – mountains of refuse and plastic rubbish bags that she says the ocean washes away. So stay-at-home mom Chasan called city, state and La Jolla officials, she said. “The municipalities are required to maintain the trash. [City of San Diego Park and Recreation director Stacey LoMedico] is sending someone to see if there’s trash on the beaches,” Chasan said. “But there’s no trash on the beach [at those times] because there’s high tide hitting the sea wall and taking it out to the ocean.” Chasan researched affected areas — extending from south La Jolla to Bird Rock — where, although city crews removed garbage cans, beachgoers continued to toss rubbish. Other local officials agreed with Chasan. Some said they were seeking solutions before summertime rolls around, bringing thousands of tourists to La Jolla’s beaches. “We’re trying to figure out what our options are,” La Jolla Town Council President Darcy Ashley said. “The town council isn’t committed to anything, and I haven’t presented anything to the community yet.” Ashley said she spoke to Chasan and told her the council was in the fact-finding stages but was interested in purchasing Big Belly solar trashcans. Chasan learned residents needed to purchase replacement containers and then search for a trash pick-up service, she said. So, Chasan contacted La Jolla’s business improvement district, Promote La Jolla (PLJ). Newly elected PLJ President Rick Wildman told Chasan the group would extend its contract, covering trash pickup for about six of the 14 missing garbage cans — two at the foot and two at the coastal access points off Marine Street and two at the foot of Sea Lane, Chasan said. Wildman said PLJ would help Chasan, allowing residents to “piggyback” on their trash service. “PLJ worked the figures,” Wildman said. “We can add the additional pickups to the garbage route with no net cost to La Jolla.” “The solution with PLJ is a good abridging solution,” Chasan said. “It’s $5,000 for three times a week pickup.” While Wildman and PLJ helped solve part of La Jolla’s trash problem, eight more cans near Bird Rock would need pickup, according to Chasan. “The PLJ contract will cover probably six of the 14 cans. PLJ can only extend their contract in their region — not to Camino de la Costa,” Chasan said. City officials told Chasan they tossed the old cans and residents must purchase costly “seagull-proof” rubbish containers, Chasan said. “We have to replace them with seagull-proof garbage cans. We cannot afford the garbage cans,” Chasan said, adding that each cement seagull proof container costs about $1,000. Replacing the 14 missing trashcans would cost more than $14,000, according to Chasan. Ashley said the town council has been investigating garbage solutions with PLJ, mainly purchasing Big Belly Solar trashcans. “Rick Wildman and I were trying to learn more about it, what it is and what’s involved in it,” Ashley said. “The most exciting thing about it is it’s exciting green technology that reduces the number of collections and prevents seagulls from getting into the trash.” According to Chasan, area residents’ home owners association researched trash service. So, Chasan said she contacted state officials regarding a grant that would replace the containers with solar garbage cans. “I have been looking into a grant from the State of California,” Chasan said, adding that the state grant application process opens March 1. “Solar garbage cans are completely seagull proof…They meet the criteria for EPA reductions and they meet grant criteria.” Chasan plans on applying for about 30 solar garbage cans — which would replace about half and give half to the city on standby, in addition to funding trash pickup, she said. “The requirement from the grant is to prove that you can prevent garbage from going down the storm drain,” Chasan said. According to Chasan, starting March 1, she will apply to the State of California Department of Conservation grant to Increase Recycling and Reduce Trash Buildup in Storm Drains. “A grant is a win-win,” Chasan said. “Next year, PLJ can’t afford it.” Chasan said her next step would be to start the permit process, asking La Jolla Parks and Beaches to issue permits for the receptacles. “Eventually, yes, we’ll have to ask for a permit since they’re on the coastline,” Chasan said. “The really terrific news is the ability of the town council and Promote La Jolla to work together on this,” Ashley said. For more information about PLJ, visit www.lajollabythesea.com. For more information about La Jolla Town Council, visit www.lajollatowncouncil.org. For more information about solar garbage, visit www.big bellysolar.com.