LA to add 65 bins in Koreatown

Los Angeles residents have complained for years that their neighborhood lacks adequate places to dispose of litter. In response to those grievances, the city plans to install 65 new public trash cans in Koreatown.

The expansion addresses one of three demands made by the Koreatown chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union. The group launched its Barrio Limpio campaign in September. It also seeks dumpsters for all apartment buildings and businesses, along with more reliable pickup for bulky items.

City Councilmember Heather Hutt’s office stated that the tenants union will select the locations for the first 20 bins. The office intends to add another 45 units, working with the union to determine their placement.

Martin Mendoza, a union member living near Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, said the campaign emerged from long-standing resident frustration. The union has organized monthly cleanups along the 8th Street corridor between Normandie and Vermont avenues for approximately two years. Mendoza noted that the group recognized cleanup efforts were insufficient. He said there are practically no trash cans along 8th Street for a long stretch.

Mendoza described the issue as a basic service failure. He compared it to having a home without a trash can. He added that members often cite sanitation fears and public health concerns as their primary worry.

The Los Angeles Sanitation Bureau currently operates 2,472 public trash bins citywide. In Koreatown, the department manages 17 automated litter bins and 19 metal slatted bins. Spokesperson Heather Johnson explained that the bureau places receptacles along major commercial corridors and bus stops. The department uses data analytics and works with council offices to set locations. Depending on usage, the bureau empties receptacles three to seven days a week. Johnson noted that many automated bins have been damaged or destroyed, which led the department to switch to more durable metal slatted bins.

Data from Crosstown shows Koreatown generated 435 reports involving public trash receptacles between Oct. 1, 2025, and Oct. 29, 2026. This number is nearly double the 219 reports from Highland Park, the next-highest neighborhood in the dataset. MyLA311 defines these reports as involving public cans in the right-of-way that are overflowing, damaged, missing, or in need of maintenance.

Volunteers with No Harm KTLA, a group that holds cleanups in Koreatown twice a month, frequently encounter overflowing bins. Volunteer Tam Phan described a recent cleanup near Western Avenue and 3rd Street. She said volunteers passed at least three overfull cans with litter piled around them. Phan noted that she does not know the specific pickup schedule for the area. She said the bins were always overfilled despite the group’s regular presence. She added that volunteers sometimes walk two or three blocks without finding a can. Near Vermont and Wilshire boulevards, the closest open dumpster was about a mile away.

Nicole Arbusto, a resident of 2nd Street between Normandie and Vermont avenues, said cleanliness varies by block. She observed that people tend to litter when they see trash on the ground. She believes the presence of a trash can encourages people to use it.

Steve Kang, president of the Board of Public Works, said the city recently launched a rapid-response team dedicated to Koreatown. The team picks up bulky items and addresses other forms of blight. Kang stated that the city works with the community and the council district to identify bin locations. The City Council approved funding for 500 additional metal slatted bins last week. The bureau plans to install these across multiple districts during the current fiscal year. Kang said the city will eventually replace current plastic bins with durable cans bolted into the sidewalk to deter tampering.