MarBorg opens hazardous waste facility

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Goleta residents tired of paint cans piling up in the garage, old batteries littering drawers and outdated electronics taking up space can now dump their hazardous junk at a new MarBorg Industries facility unveiled yesterday.

“We call this the ABOP — antifreeze, batteries, oil and paint — but it’s much more,” said Mario Borgatello, the company’s owner and president.
He described the collection facility at 20 David Love Place as a one-stop shop to ditch hazardous waste ranging from water-based paint, fluorescent lights and compact discs to cell phones, televisions and old stereos.
“There is no cost to drop any of those items off at this facility,” Borgatello said.
Located next to MarBorg’s recycling center, where workers also accept glass, aluminum, cardboard and plastic, the ABOP collection area is now open for business six days a week.
Officials hope Goleta Valley residents will drop off any hazardous materials at the new facility rather than dumping them in the regular waste stream or, worse yet, in a storm drain.
“This will be a real boon,” Goleta Mayor Michael Bennett said.
Councilman Roger Aceves, who chairs Goleta’s solid waste committee, said the city always exceeds the state’s standards for diverting waste.
“This is only going to help us increase that percentage and show that Goleta is a leader in recycling,” he said.
He also challenged parents to bring their children to the facility and teach them the importance of recycling.
“It’s not a choice, it’s not an option,” Aceves said. “It’s something we have to do.”
A worker trained in handling hazardous materials will be on the site at all times to assist visitors dropping off waste, officials said. The materials will be stored safely until another company takes them away for processing.
Cesar Medina, MarBorg’s safety manager, said while it costs MarBorg to have another company pick up the hazardous items, it is worth it to prompt local residents to keep dangerous waste out of the landfill.
“There’s so much of a demand for it,” Medina said. “Sometimes you have to sacrifice and have a free service like this.”
He expects water-based paint to be the most popular item dropped off at the facility, although batteries and old electronics will likely pile up as well.
County Supervisor Janet Wolf said she is committed to getting the word out to residents about the new collection center and praised MarBorg for offering the free service.
“They have set quite an example, I believe, for businesses in our community to do the right thing,” she said.
The ABOP and Electronics Collection Facility is now open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.