Our family-owned and operated business has been deeply rooted in Boyle Heights for decades. As your neighbor, we want you to know why we are here and what we do.
The manufacturing and use of every day items creates industrial waste. Pacific Resource Recovery (PRR) keeps the community safe by protecting the environment from the negative impacts of industrial waste.
We put the well-being of our employees and community first.
We treat our customer’s risk as if it is our own by providing solution-oriented waste management services.
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Industrial waste is generated in various ways, from the manufacturing of cars, furniture, and electronics to industrial cleaning in the healthcare and automotive repair industries.
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Before industrial waste is sent to the PRR Facility, we approve profiles and review manifests to confirm that the waste falls under our accepted waste codes listed in our permit. Once the documentation is approved, waste arrives at the PRR facility through transporters or by our own fleet of trucks.
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Our expert technicians sample, test and inspect all incoming waste to confirm that it is what was stated in the pre-approved paperwork. Every container is assigned a bar-code, making it traceable through the entire process: from its arrival to PRR to its departure to the final disposal site.
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Waste either stays in our warehouse awaiting an outbound shipment or is moved to our processing area so that it can be converted to fuel or consolidated for shipping.
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All industrial waste that is received at our facility is shipped out to a permitted disposal site. We never dispose of industrial waste at our facility.
1929: Our current location (3150 E. Pico Blvd), was built for the purposes of industrial manufacturing and hazardous materials warehousing. It’s first occupant was the paint manufacturing company ACME White Lead and Colorworks Company.
1930s: ACME was acquired by Sherwin Williams and the building became the Automotive Coatings Headquarters for Sherwin Williams.
1964: Bob Berg acquires Boyle Heights based solvent company Pacific Coast Lacquer.
1969: Bob Berg acquires Ellis Paint Company, an industrial and automotive paint and coatings manufacturing company.
1976: Bob Berg purchases the 3150 E. Pico Blvd building from Sherwin Williams and relocates the Ellis Paint and PCL manufacturing operations to this facility.
1978: Sandra Berg, Bob Berg’s eldest daughter, joins the family business.
1980: Bob Berg develops the revolutionary PCL system, offering customers a responsible way to manage the industrial waste that they generate.
1988: Ellis Paint hires Chemist and Vice President, Joseph Tashjian. (Tashjian would later be responsible for the formulation of Ellis’ most successful products over his 30 years of service with the company).
1991: Pacific Resource Recovery (PRR) was founded, with Sandra Berg as President and PRR formally authorized as a TSDF (Treatment, Storage, and Disposal facility). Sandra Berg is named President of The Berg Family of Companies.
2012: PRR successfully completes its permit renewal as a small treatment and small storage TSDF.
2017 – 2018: Ellis Paint Company is acquired by Axalta Coatings Systems (2017) and ends all manufacturing operations inside the PRR building.
2019: Jennifer Lahoda (3rd Generation Berg Family) and Veeken Tashjian (2nd Generation Tashjian Family) take the helm of PRR’s daily operations.
2021: Jennifer Lahoda and Veeken Tashjian named Co-Presidents of PRR
June 2022: PRR’s current part B permit is up for renewal. PRR has submitted their permit renewal application to DTSC and will be allowed to operate on their current permit until the new permit is granted.
We provide meaningful and well-paid jobs, responsibly remove industrial waste from our environment, and support organizations near and dear to our community.
We do the right thing—for our customers, for our employees, for our community and company. We take pride in our work, trust in our teammates and care about making a difference. Compliance is just the beginning; our daily actions demonstrates that we are committed to embodying the highest standards in every aspect of our business.
We care about the safety and well-being of our people as it’s the foundation of our success. That means treating our customers’ risk as if it is our own and engaging in our community as not just a business, but as neighbors. We actively build relationships and, in the process, deliver exceptional results.
We are committed to the growth of our people and our company. We foster a feedback rich environment that supports personal and professional development. We don’t shy away from challenges; instead, we take responsibility for our growth by continuously improving the way we think and work. Our values drive our growth.
We operate with transparency. We communicate to our team and to our community with honesty and respect. Remaining accountable is our upmost priority and welcome the opportunity to make any wrongs, right. We are a team and recognize that our success comes from trusting in our teamwork!
Jennifer Lahoda
Co-President
9 years of service
Veeken Tashjian
Co-President
11 years of service
Kirk Waldorf
Director of Services Sales
29 years of service
Karen Hollinhurst
Director of Systems Sales
38 years of service
Alma Vacio
Customer Service Manager
19 years of service
Tony Lucero
Controller
25 years of service
Manuel Melchor
Accounting Manager
22 years of service
Miriam Rodriguez
Organizational Development Manger
1 year of service
Mark Russell
Director of Operations
44 years of service
John Julius
Operations Manager
9 years of service
Jorge Garcia
Assistant Operations Manager
20 years of service
