At El Morro, delays in taking out the trash

Resident of mobile home park complain that slow pickup of waste is creating a health hazard.With less than two months remaining before residents at the El Morro Village mobile park home are evicted from their homes, a few continue to take exception with a service provided to them.

George Brennan, a 10-year resident of an El Morro beachside property, said he filed last week a written complaint to Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s office, complaining about a lack of waste collection over the holidays.

“Usually they pick up the garbage on a regular basis,” Brennan said. “Especially because of the holidays, the bins are overflowing. People keep emptying trash bags and have no place to put their garbage.”

Ken Kramer, superintendent of Crystal Cove State Park, said a billing snafu just before New Year’s Day caused service provider Waste Management to miss its normally scheduled Friday pickup. The company is in charge of the village’s water, trash and electrical services.

Waste Management is contracted for twice-weekly pickups, Monday and Friday, Kramer said, adding that he learned earlier in the week of the problem and sent a park maintenance supervisor to survey the scene.

Kramer said collectors came on Wednesday to retrieve the garbage. He said he has instructed the supervisor to continue to monitor the area.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” Kramer said. “That weekend was busy. There was lots of trash generated. We have no intentions of discontinuing any essential services until the settlement terms end in February.”

Sarah Huoh, a spokesperson for Waste Management, said bins at the park “were virtually empty” as of Friday. A small bit of garbage was scattered outside a bin on the ocean side of the village. The lid was also open.

“I’m not sure what type of rodents are around here. It truly is a health hazard,” Brennan said. “To come back to a place that is so rancid is unbearable.”

Cheryl Heyman, an El Morro resident, said she noticed the overflowing trash on Wednesday when she returned to her home. She said it was an aberration.

“I haven’t had a problem before,” she said.

Tricia Arcelona, a spokesperson for Orange County Health Agency, said the agency had not been made aware of the problem. She said residents can file a complaint by calling (714) 433-6000.

Arcelona said a health problem can exist if a lid is open or trash sits outside bins.

“They are receptacles for diseases,” Arcelona said. “They attract rodents if trash is outside.”

The 75-year-old mobile home community is on land that the state bought in 1979. The state parks department plans to turn the land into a 60-space campground and a 200-space parking lot.