Year in

review

Year in

review

JANuary

  • Held public information meeting for the planned development of Capistrano Greenery at Prima Deshecha Landfill.
  • OCWR participates in TET Festival, attracting more than 1,000 visitors to the booth to collect reusable bags and recycling education materials.

FEBRUARY

  • Contractors complete construction of Phase IV of the Prima Viewshed, which supports erosion control and Good Neighbor aesthetics at the landfill.

March

  • COVID-19 hits; OCWR begins adopting protocols and Best Management Practices to enable continuous operations while protecting staff, customers and contractors.

April

  • OCWR and Discovery Cube celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day through virtual campaigns due to COVID-19. Month-long activities include social media contests, virtual family activity books and prizes for posted activities demonstrating organic waste knowledge
  • OCWR boosts educational outreach to help ensure proper disposal of PPE and household hazardous waste.

May

  • Translocation project at Prima for 450 Thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia), a state-endangered and federally-threatened flowering plant species, successfully met final performance standards and was approved by regulatory agencies in 2020.

June

  • OCWR wins NACo Awards for OC Recycle Guide, a digital resource for OC residents to help them recycle properly, and the Metal Recycling Pilot Project, which proved the department’s ability to recover and repurpose rather than bury scrap metal.
  • Board of Supervisors approves OC Department of Education contract, through which a program will integrate recycling and proper waste management education into the OC public schools curriculum.

July

  • OCWR launches refreshed website
  • OCWR hosts public information meeting for proposed changes at Prima landfill, including development of Zone 4 preliminary plans for an organic waste recycling facility.

August

  • Contractors repair the main access road at the Olinda Alpha Landfill to continue the safety of customers and staff members.

September

  • Contractors complete construction of Orange County’s first municipal composting facility, Bee Canyon Greenery at Frank R. Bowerman Landfill.
  • Mattress recycling and metal recycling commences at all three landfill sites.
  • SWANA presents its Best Safety Innovation national award to OCWR, recognizing our OC Safety program for its ability to help track and monitor both training and safety incidents.
  • Local Enforcement Agency hosts virtual public meeting for Bee Canyon Greenery

October

  • Supervisor Donald P. Wagner serves as keynote speaker at Bee Canyon Greenery ceremonial Grand Opening.
  • OCWR hosts public meeting for Olinda Alpha Solid Waste Facility Permit to continue operations through 2036.
  • Silverado Fire sweeps through Bowerman Landfill, forcing a five-week shutdown of the facility.

November

  • Bowerman Landfill opens November 30 following completion of critical remediation efforts resulting from the Silverado Fire.
  • Crews complete construction of a solar-powered misting system at Prima, enhancing the Good Neighbor approach to odor mitigation.

December

  • Yorba Linda City Councilmember Beth Haney elected chair of the OC Waste Management Commission for 2021; Aliso Viejo Councilmember Dave Harrington elected vice chair.