The Brief

Nine months after the Palisades Fire erupted, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,800 structures, authorities announced that they've arrested and charged 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht in connection with starting the deadly blaze.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida. He has been charged with destruction of property by means of fire, which is a felony that carries a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison.

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office shows Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades Fire.

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U.S. Attorney's Office

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been investigating since January and has determined that it was a reignition of an earlier fire. Officials said at a news conference Wednesday that Rinderknecht started that fire six days earlier while working as an Uber driver — around midnight on Jan. 1 — after dropping off a passenger.

The 8-acre Lachman Fire didn't spread far, as L.A. city and county helicopters made water drops and hand crews cut a fire line, helping to contain the blaze before moving on to mop up. Firefighters then patrolled the burned area to extinguish smoldering stumps, logs and piles of ash, as there was a risk of reignition later.

That's exactly what appears to have happened.

According to Essayli, the fire smoldered underground until strong winds on Jan. 7 caused the fire to surface and spread, becoming one of the most destructive fires on record.

Speculation about the cause of the fire had centered on fireworks, but Essayli said that authorities have no evidence that's the case. Rinderknecht reportedly lived in the Pacific Palisades, but had relocated to Florida since then.

Authorities gave no potential motive. They projected AI images, said to have been generated by the suspect, at a news conference.

Rinderknecht remained in custody Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, and it was unclear when he would be extradited to California.

AI-generated images were displayed by federal officials when they announced the arrest of a man in connection with the Palisades Fire.

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Courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office

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In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked federal and local investigators for the work that led to the arrest.

"Each day that families are displaced is a day too long," Bass said, "and as we are working tirelessly to bring Angelenos home, we are also working towards closure and towards justice — and today is a step forward in that process."

The backstory

The Palisades Fire sparked about 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, amid a massive windstorm in Southern California. By the time it was fully contained 24 days later, the fire had burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 6,800 structures and damaging 937 more. Twelve people were killed.

An LAist review of after-action reports released following the January fires and the 2018 Woolsey Fire — which killed three people and destroyed nearly 2,000 structures across L.A. and Ventura counties — found similar shortfalls in L.A. County’s emergency response. The reports offer similar recommendations for how to fix the issues too.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department said comparing the reports wasn't reasonable and told LAist that they are pursuing recommendations from the report on the Eaton and Palisades fires and other changes.

The Los Angeles Fire Department released its after-action report later on Wednesday.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is all about people with superpowers living in a world very much like our own.

And there’s a lot of real Los Angeles mixed into the recent MCU series “Wonder Man,” now on Disney+, which makes for a version of the MCU that feels a little more grounded in reality, especially for Angelenos.

It's an action-comedy about two struggling actors also dealing with superhuman forces and secret government agencies. Think The Studio meets Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Sir Ben Kingsley reprises his Iron Man 3 character Trevor Slattery, the messy British actor hired to play a bad guy called The Mandarin. And Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man.

Through their adventures trying to book the gig-of-a-lifetime while surviving the perils of the MCU, L.A. landmarks and cultural references abound, and ground the series in a relatability for many Angelenos, including lots of inside jokes for those working in the entertainment industry.

3 cultural references that make Wonder Man feel like real Los Angeles

Historic places, some we’ve had to part with

There’s a series of roughly 100-year-old small, independent movie houses used as locations in Wonder Man — the Eagle Theatre now home to Vidiots, Westwood's Village Theater now operated by American Cinematheque (with views of The Bruin Theater across the street), and the Highland Theatre which closed in 2024.

A scene from 'Wonder Man' on Disney +.

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Marvel Television

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Speaking of iconic L.A. spots breaking local hearts, the vintage bar within Echo Park’s Taix French Restaurant was used as an interior location for the series. Taix is closing at the end of the month to make way for new development.

“Taix, the Highland Park Theatre — these places that it was only three years ago were there,” Wonder Man showrunner Andrew Guest told LAist, “a lot of these establishments sadly, are not surviving. And this town is in a rough, rough place.”

(Though actor/director Kristen Stewart recently said in an interview with Architectural Digest that she bought The Highland Theatre and is restoring the building.)

L.A. traffic (especially around the Hollywood Bowl on a performance night)

Traffic is part of life in Los Angeles and with so many scenes shot in Hollywood, even the main characters of Wonder Man must experience that bumper-to-bumper frustration.

Though, because it is a TV show, they were able to indulge in the fantasy of beating that traffic in a way that in reality would be highly dangerous (and illegal).

“We got to shut down Sunset Boulevard for a little while to shoot a car going onto the sidewalk in front of the Palladium,” said Guest. And surprisingly, he explained, they didn’t have to shoot in the middle of the night to make the shot happen: “That was Friday night…. We didn't close all lanes of traffic. The street was open. We were shooting while Los Angeles was still going strong.”

The scene also references the frequent traffic back up during big shows at the Hollywood Bowl, even earning the show a social media repost of the scene from Chaka Khan.

Having family and friends 45 minutes away, who you rarely visit

Wonder Man includes an episode titled Pacoima where the main character visits his family and childhood home.

“My wife grew up in Chatsworth, and one of the things I found fascinating about her experience growing up there was that many of her friends and their families never went to Los Angeles,” said Guest.

“The idea that Simon grew up close to, but far enough away that Hollywood and Los Angeles did not feel like they were part of his life…so when he moved to the city, Pacoima is not a place he goes to a lot. And I feel like that's a part of L.A. that is true to this city. That doesn't get explored a lot and felt like it was another detail that we got to sort of throw into the show.”

There’s lots of other Southern California. references to enjoy from the Talmadge Apartments, an historic renaissance revival building on Wilshire Blvd., a mural of Danny Trejo, and even a cameo from Gisellle Fernandes, real-life L.A. broadcaster for Spectrum 1 News.

Should you get lost in the multi-verse, at least this L.A will be pretty familiar.

BONUS: Could there be a Season 2 of Wonder Man? And would it still be set in L.A.?

Guest couldn’t confirm anything about a possible Season 2, but told LAist, “It’s still on the table as an option, potentially."

As for whether a potential Season 2 would also film in Los Angeles and continue to highlight the city in new ways, Guest said it’s occurred to him that one of the best ways to write about Hollywood could be “ to send our show somewhere else because everybody in this town who's working has to move — whether it be Budapest or London or Ireland or Vancouver — very little is actually happening in this town. And that’s a story that I don’t think is being told right now about L.A.”

Season 1 of ‘Wonder Man’ is now streaming on Disney+.

It’s almost time for the Oscars, my favorite Sunday of the year. Whether you’re prepping for your watch party with Ham-net and cheese sandwiches, a Sinners-ful dessert display, Blue Moon pies or If I Had (Crab) Legs I’d Kick You, settle in for several hours of yelling at the screen and obsessing over dresses. If you’re not of the Oscars persuasion and are heading out to one of the many fun events on this list (or can score me an invite to the Vanity Fair party), be aware of street closures and diversions if you’re anywhere near Hollywood.

That’s doubly true if you’re catching any of the great music on tap this weekend. Our friends at Licorice Pizza suggest Miguel at the Forum, Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wyde at the YouTube Theater, Band of Skulls at the Teragram, the California Honeydrops at the Bellwether, Chicago indie rockers Whitney at the Lodge Room and Jon Brion going back to his roots at Largo — all on Friday. On Saturday, Indonesian rapper and singer Rich Brian is at the Palladium, London techno duo Bassvictim is at the Fonda (they’ll also be there Sunday) and ex-Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes plays the Troubadour (also playing on Sunday). Or, if you’re really in a truly madly deeply romantic mood, you can ride your pony over to the Peacock Theater for “The R&B Lovers Tour” with Ginuwine, Keith Sweat, Joe and Dru Hill.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can get composting tips from science reporter Jacob Margolis, learn about the potential fate of a Newport Beach sculpture park, and follow teens at East L.A.’s Garfield High as they head to the state Academic Decathlon.

Events

Brazilian Oscars Watch Party

Sunday, March 15, 3 p.m.
Dusty Vinyl
11326 W Pico Blvd., West L.A.
COST: $50; MORE INFO

Wagner Moura poses at the "The Secret Agent" green carpet during the 21st Zurich Film Festival.

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Andreas Rentz

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Getty Images

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There are many, many places to watch the Oscars with other movie fans this Sunday. But why not celebrate with the Brazilians and their nomination for (the excellent film) The Secret Agent? Dusty Vinyl is being turned into a 1977 secret-agent-themed hideout for the occasion, with a bespoke menu (food is included) and live music before the show starts; '70s costumes encouraged.

Honour

Through Sunday, March 22
Ruskin Group Theatre
2800 Airport Ave., Santa Monica 
COST: $45; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy The Ruskin Theatre

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Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) is getting rave reviews for her performance in Honour, Joanna Murray-Smith’s examination of marriage and betrayal. Directed by Max Mayer, it’s the first show in the newly renovated Kaplan Stage at Ruskin Group Theatre, and Broadway World called it “a meaningful return to the material and a powerful way to inaugurate the Kaplan Stage.”

KCRW PieFest & Contest

Saturday, March 14, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Autry Museum
4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy KCRW

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It’s 3.14, so that means it must be Pi Day. With it comes the annual Pie Contest from KCRW. I entered once, and while my apple-pomegranate pie was delish, it sadly did not win. Perhaps I will try again someday, but in the meantime, I can eat and admire everyone else’s creations at the Autry. There’s pie, of course, but there’s also baking demos, food trucks, music and more.

Los Angeles Vintage Paperback Show

Sunday, March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 Verdugo Road, Glendale
COST: $10; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy LA Vintage Paperback Show

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Pulp fiction is alive and well at the L.A. Vintage Paperback Show in Glendale, where over 100 dealers will show their wares. From sci-fi to mysteries and everything in between, the annual event features free author signings and hours of fun poring over books of the past.

East L.A. Women’s Day Fest

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
East L.A. Civic Center
4801 E. Third Street, East L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Celebrate Eastside women’s organizations like Mujeres de Maiz and The Goddess Mercado at the longest running women’s day celebration in East L.A. The event features art and advocacy workshops, music, poetry, local vendors and more.

Free pitas at Miznon opening

Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
8370 W 3rd Street, Beverly Grove 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Miznon

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Popular Israeli dining spot Miznon’s new West 3rd St. location is opening this weekend and celebrating with free pitas — Lavan, Broken Chicken or Candy Steak — for the first 100 guests. The new location expands on their Grand Central Market stall, with a full bar and indoor and outdoor seating. Get there early!

Santa Monica Bay Audubon Field Trip

Saturday, March 14, 8 a.m. 
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Birdwatchers of all experience levels, get ready for some next-level spotting — there are more than 200 bird species in the Sepulveda Basin — with a free field trip from the Santa Monica Bay Audubon. Join guides for a walk that ensures a peek at many different waterfowl, like pied-billed grebes, great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, American coots, Anna’s hummingbirds, cliff swallows and blue grosbeaks.

ArtNight Pasadena

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Various Pasadena locations
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy ArtNight Pasadena

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ArtNight Pasadena is back! Free shuttles take you around to all kinds of art and theater experiences for a special night out along Colorado Boulevard and beyond. Head out and see all that Pasadena has to offer, from dance performances to art and photography workshops to gallery and museum installations to free classical music.

Angel City FC Opener vs. Chicago Stars

Sunday, March 15, 4 p.m.
BMO Stadium 
3939 S Figueroa Street, Expo Park
COST: FROM $38; MORE INFO

Sarah Gorden of Angel City FC prepares to kick the ball during a game between Portland Thorns and Angel City.

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Liza Rosales

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ISI Photos/Getty Images

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No need to wait for the World Cup — we already have first-class women’s soccer happening this weekend, with the Angel City FC season kicking off against the Chicago Stars. Star forward Casey Phair is back from a stint in Sweden, and the team is ready for the new season. (Plus, they have the cutest gear.)

As part of his sentence for a corruption scheme that diverted millions of tax dollars from feeding needy seniors, a federal judge ordered former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to pay the county $878,230 as restitution for his crime.

“He has the ability to pay a fine,” U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna wrote last June, listing Do’s net worth at about $1.5 million, with a negative monthly cash flow of $8,400.

At an Aug. 11 restitution hearing, the judge ordered Do to pay the first installment of $250,000 within 30 days.

The next day, Do transferred all of his ownership of his family home — estimated by Zillow to be worth $2.2 million — over to his wife, OC Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham, according to a real estate record.

That Sept. 10 due date for the first restitution payment has long since passed, but federal and county officials say Do has yet to pay it.

“He did not make that payment,” said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutors’ office that oversaw the case, when asked by LAist about it on Monday. McEvoy said the prosecutors’ office understands “there was no money left in assets” that could be seized.

Leon Page, Orange County’s top lawyer, said county officials are “not aware of any such payment from Andrew Do.”

Do’s attorney, Paul Meyer, declined to comment, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so.

“It’s hard to believe that so much time has gone by without the restitution being paid,” said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor who served decades ago as a senior federal prosecutor at the office that later prosecuted Do.

“It certainly raises questions — if not eyebrows — as to what happened here. Because ordinarily the U.S. Attorney's Office would take victim restitution orders quite seriously.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office can file a court motion if they discover a significant change in the defendant’s economic circumstances that affect their to pay restitution, according to a federal Justice Department guide. The prosecutors’ office also “is required to certify to the Court that victims who are owed restitution are notified about such material changes,” the guide states.

The court’s official online records show no filings regarding any changes in Do’s financial circumstances, or his apparent failure to pay the court-ordered restitution that was due six months ago.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s spokesperson has not responded to a follow up request for comment. They previously declined to answer any further questions about the situation.

Do turned himself into federal prison on Aug. 15, three days after transferring ownership of his family home to his wife. Meanwhile, he continues to collect about $7,300 per month from his county pension, according to the pension system. In addition, this January he received a $12,771 refund from the pension system of all the contributions he made as a supervisor, from when his crime began in June 2020 until he resigned in October 2024.

What happened?

Federal authorities say their understanding is no money was available for them to seize.

“When a defendant fails to pay a restitution order, our office’s financial litigation unit gets involved and completes a thorough financial investigation to find … any assets that could satisfy the outstanding restitution balance,” McEvoy wrote in an emailed response to LAist.

“We cannot comment on what that investigation found, but our understanding is there was no money left in assets that the government could levy to satisfy that order.”

McEvoy declined to answer follow-up questions.

In response to LAist’s questions, county officials say they’re looking into their options if Do refuses to pay restitution as required.

“We do not believe that he has complied with this order, but we’re verifying that is the case at this time,” said the spokesperson, Molly Nichelson.

Property ownership transferred just after restitution order

Do signed a deed on Aug. 12 transferring to his wife all of his ownership in the North Tustin family home they purchased in 2002, according to an official copy of the document LAist obtained from the county clerk-recorder.

Do's attorney declined to comment on the transfer.

An FBI officer at Andrew Do's house in North Tustin.

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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

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LAist

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LAist obtained permit records showing substantial renovation work on the house was managed in 2021 by the leader of the same nonprofit from whom Do admitted to receiving kickbacks. The work included a bathroom addition and remodel of the master bathroom and kitchen.

Do also was investigated multiple times by the O.C. District Attorney’s Office, going back to 2015, over allegations he was living at the home illegally outside of the district he was representing as supervisor. No criminal charges were filed.

Pham was the court’s second highest-ranking judge when her husband’s corruption scheme came to light. Their two adult daughters received bribe money for their father as part of the scheme, according to Do’s plea deal.

The corruption scheme

After an LAist investigation prompted a criminal investigation, Do admitted to taking bribes as part of a scheme to divert nearly $8 million from feeding needy seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. He is now serving a five-year sentence in federal prison.

The county alleges its losses from the scheme were much higher — more than $13 million — and is trying to recover it through a lawsuit that is expected to take a long time to work its way through the court.

The restitution Do was ordered to pay is separate from the $3.7 million authorities obtained from properties and bank account money held by others accused of involvement in the scheme. That did not come from Do’s assets. Instead, it came from assets owned by his daughter, as well as a business and nonprofit Do had no formal role at.

The total restitution amount

After the first $250,000 installment due in September, Do is required to pay $25 per quarter while in prison.

When Do entered prison in August, his release date was listed in November 2029 — about 85% of his five-year sentence. Seven months in, his expected time in prison has been shortened by two months, with a new release date in September 2029.

A spokesperson for the federal prison system said they cannot comment on specific people’s confinement conditions but that incarcerated people can earn additional time off of their sentence by completing specific classes and programs.

After leaving prison, the restitution order requires Do to pay $1,000 per month or 10% of his income — whichever is more.

At $1,000 per month, the last of the restitution payments would be in late 2081, when Do would be 118 years old.

A group of Los Angeles County high school students is trying to set a world record by collecting thousands of tennis balls and pickleballs for recycling — and they want your help.

The teens are working to keep the recreational equipment out of landfills through a youth-led recycling initiative called “Another Bounce.”

An estimated 500 million tennis and pickleballs are thrown away each year worldwide, according to the organization. In the U.S. alone, 125 million tennis balls end up in landfills annually, according to Stanford University.

A dozen students are leading the charge as part of their roles in the Junior Board of Habits of Waste, a Brentwood-based nonprofit focused on changing people’s habits and systems to help combat climate change.

“There's so much waste, and nobody really pays as much attention to it as they should,” said Max Ehrman, a 15-year-old Brentwood School freshman and junior board member.

Sheila Morovati, the organization’s founder and president, told LAist the initiative aims to get the sports world involved in sustainability. Pickleball, for example, remains the fastest growing sport in America, with tens of thousands of courts across the country.

“Tennis and pickleballs are one of those things where we are just constantly engaging in wastefulness without thinking twice about it,” Morovati said. “How can we think differently? How can we look at what we're doing every day to this planet and say, ‘Hey, can I do any better?’”

The students are collecting used balls within a 30-mile radius of Pacific Palisades and accepting mailed donations to a Santa Monica warehouse. They’re also advocating for recycling improvements with ball manufacturers and elected officials in Southern California.

The campaign will host a community collection event on April 19. The goal is to gather the donations by Earth Day on April 22.

About the initiative

Morovati said the idea started when some students at her son’s school realized how many balls were getting tossed in the trash after only a few hours of use.

The tennis and pickleballs are not biodegradable and can take more than 400 years to decompose, according to Another Bounce.

The initiative is being led by teens and athletes from several L.A.-area high schools, including Crossroads, Brentwood, Loyola, Harvard Westlake and Windward.

Among the participants are Ford and Boone Casady, 16-year-old twin brothers who attend Crossroads School in Santa Monica and who are among the top ranked junior pickleball players in the country.

“There's been nowhere for these balls to go,” Ford told LAist. “It's generally such a waste, and it's terrible to see that happen in our environment.”

“It's just very sad because I've grown up in the Palisades and in the ocean my entire life, and I've noticed the trash in the ocean,” Boone told LAist. “And I'm worried about the animals that are living in that biome that are having to ingest that plastic and those toxic things that are killing them.”

Morovati, who previously set a world record for the most crayons donated to charity in eight hours, said the ultimate goal is to set a recycling record that can’t be beaten easily. However, one of the challenges is storing the balls until they can be counted.

It was easier, in terms of volume, to get up to the million mark with crayons, she said.

“I think in this instance, even if they get into the 50,000, 100,000 range, I would be thrilled,” she added.

Another Bounce is using a three-pronged approach to collect as many balls for recycling as possible:

• Working with clubs and coaches in the area for a local donation drive and accepting donations from other parts of the country with a warehouse in Santa Monica
• Speaking at city council meetings, including in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, to advocate for ordinances that would require parks, schools and clubs to recycle tennis and pickleballs
• Campaigning for major ball manufacturers to roll out nationwide take-back and recycling programs

“We’re trying to, like, change this narrative and we would like you guys to help us by supporting our mission,” said Max, the Brentwood School student. “Talking to your coaches, talking to your schools, talking to your clubs and trying to get as much involvement as possible.”

All the balls collected by Another Bounce throughout the initiative will be counted for their world record attempt before being recycled.

A Guinness World Records spokesperson told LAist it doesn’t currently monitor the title for the most tennis and pickleballs collected for recycling.

The organization is keeping an eye on the most tennis balls collected for recycling in one week, but no one currently holds it. Anyone attempting the record must collect at least 579 pounds, according to Guinness World Records.

How you can help

There are a few ways you can help the teens reach their recycling goal and set a new world record:

• You can schedule a personal volunteer pick-up by sending an email to another.bounce@gmail.com

• You can also send ball donations via snail mail to:
  C. Wiebe (HoW Donation)
  3000 31st St., Suite C
  Santa Monica, CA 90405
  
• You can send an email to major ball manufacturers, including Wilson and Penn, urging the companies to provide take-back and recycling programs online here

Learn more about Another Bounce and keep up with the students’ progress on its website and on Instagram.