Los Angeles crews remove mountains of trash again from notorious 'Trash House' in Fairfax

City crews in Los Angeles removed large amounts of garbage this week from a property long derided by neighbors as the "Trash House," marking the second major cleanup at the Fairfax residence in roughly 18 months and renewing concerns about public health, safety and the drain on municipal resources.

Images of the home on the 600 block of Martel Avenue show trash bags and debris piled around the front and sides of the property, partially covering a vehicle in the driveway, with even more material visible in the backyard. Neighbors said the piles have produced offensive odors and worried the accumulation could attract rodents or pose a fire hazard.

Sanitation officials said the city has expended significant public resources on the property before. During the previous major cleanup, workers removed some 14 tons of nonhazardous waste; some sanitation staff donned protective suits while clearing debris and uncovered items including an old Toyota Celica beneath the piles. The mayor’s office said Mayor Karen Bass visited the site last year.

"It is really disappointing that the owners of this private property have again allowed the conditions of the site to disintegrate," a statement from the mayor’s team said, noting an open and ongoing criminal case against the property owner. Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, whose district includes the Fairfax block, said the recurring accumulation is "once again impacting neighbors and draining city resources."

City officials and Yaroslavsky’s office said staff have been working with the homeowner to oversee progress since the first publicized cleanup. Yaroslavsky’s office said the case highlights flaws in a system that is "designed to request compliance, not demand accountability."

Neighbors and local residents who first raised alarms in April of last year described persistent odors, fear of rodent or insect infestation and the potential for fire hazards from the volume of material. "Some days it is smellier than others," a neighbor identified as Rob told NBC News during the initial cleanup. Another resident, Charlie Topial, questioned whether a municipal intervention would deliver a lasting solution: "It's nice, but what's going to happen once they leave? Is he going to start all over again?"

The homeowner, identified in public records and media reports as 71-year-old Raymond Gaon, was described by family and some neighbors as autistic and as earning income by collecting and recycling discarded materials. Gaon’s sister told reporters he recycles to make money. A neighbor who has helped him said city actions appeared to target an elderly man rather than offering assistance.

Public records show a city inspection of the property in 2014 determined the accumulation violated municipal codes. Officials have said the earlier cleanup addressed a confirmed health and safety hazard and removed tons of debris; they also pointed to the existing criminal case when criticizing the recurrence.

The property sits in a neighborhood where homes are valued in the millions, and residents have emphasized the effect on property values and neighborhood quality-of-life. Local officials face the practical challenge of balancing enforcement of municipal codes, the costs of repeated cleanups, and questions about how to address underlying causes when residents with medical or economic vulnerabilities are involved.

City sanitation personnel conducted the latest removal operation this week. Officials did not immediately provide an estimate of the volume removed this time or details about next steps in the criminal case. Neighbors said they will continue to press the city for both remediation and enforcement to prevent future recurrences.