Exchange toys containing lead for gift cards

December 16, 2008 | 7:03 am

The city of Los Angeles wants to encourage people to get rid of toys containing lead. So officials are offering $25 gift cards in exchange for such toys.

Toys can be dropped off -- and gift cards picked up -- at four locations throughout the city on Saturday, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the city attorney's office.

When families bring in toys, officials will test them for lead, Mateljan said. If lead is found, the person turning in the toy will get a $25 American Express gift card. Each family will be allowed up to two gift cards.

The four toy-testing locations, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, are:

Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, 10731 Laurel Canyon Road, in Pacoima

Hollenbeck Recreation Center, 415 S. St. Louis St., in East Los Angeles

Stoner Recreation Center, 1835 Stoner Avenue, in West Los Angeles

Green Meadows Recreation Center, 431 E. 89th St., in South Los Angeles

If the turnout is good Saturday, more lead-testing days will be set up in the future, Mateljan said. He said lead can cause behavioral and learning problems, hearing loss, birth defects, reproductive problems and cancer.

"There is no safe level of lead," City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo said in a statement. "It is toxic in even the smallest amount. So we must do everything we can to keep this toxic substance away from our kids."

More information about the program and a list of 1,500 toys and children's products known to contain lead can be found at www.lacity.org/leadtoyexchange.

The gifts cards will be paid for out of a recent $1.79-million settlement between the city attorney's office and several toy companies.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles