Three deputy directors oversee the operations and maintenance of our landfills, including our three greeneries co-located at the active sites. This includes all facets of operations, resource recovery, compliance, engineering, and environmental programs within their respective regions. A fourth deputy director leads the backbone of our safety culture program and standard operational procedures agency wide, working closely with all sites. Under their collective leadership, safety remains a top priority, ensuring the well-being of our team and the communities we serve.
Our Organization
Mission
The mission of OC Waste & Recycling is to provide waste management services, protect the environment, and promote recycling to ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations.
Vision
A landfill and resource recovery system that safely manages waste, recycles resources and protects the environment for Orange County residents and businesses.
Board of Supervisors
Effective January 2024
Donald P. Wagner
Chairman, Third District
Doug Chaffee
Vice Chairman, Fourth District
Andrew Do
First District
Vicente Sarmiento
Second District
Katrina Foley
Fifth District
Waste Management Commission
The Waste Management Commission serves as an advisory body to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, providing recommendations on matters related to municipal solid waste and hazardous waste management, including the operation and upkeep of the County’s landfills and associated facilities within its solid waste disposal and greeneries systems.
Effective January 2024
Kimberly Ho
Chairwoman, First District
Ted Bui
Vice Chairman, First District*
Colin Edwards
First District
Gloria Alvarado
Second District
Arianna Barrios
Second District*
Lee Fink
Second District
Beth Haney
Third District*
Isabell Kerins
Third District
Rajat Khurana
Third District
Christine Marick
Fourth District*
Bethany Ring
Fourth District
Tamara Wallace
Fourth District
Kelly Golden
Fifth District
Joe Soto
Fifth District
John Taylor
Fifth District*
Jennifer Cervantez
City Manager Representative
David J. Shawver
At Large
Tom Koutroulis
OC Waste & Recycling, Director
* City Selection Appointee
Our Leadership Team
In 2023, OC Waste & Recycling fortified its primary organizational pillars to include Operations, Compliance, Customer Service and Sustainability. Our new Sustainability pillar underscores the County’s focus on fostering new strategic partnerships between local municipalities, businesses, and other stakeholders. Through proactive collaboration, our region is better positioned to leverage state and federal funding opportunities to elevate public services, while ensuring environmental integrity remains at the forefront of our initiatives. This synergy enables us to deliver the most comprehensive and innovative solutions that not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of our community.
Jorge Hernandez
North Region Deputy Director
David Tieu
Central Region Deputy Director
Hany Ahmed
South Region Deputy Director
Jeff Southern
Safety & Operational Procedures Deputy Director
Julian Sabri
Compliance Support Deputy Director
Lisa Smith
Business Services & External Affairs Deputy Director
Tara Tisopulos
Sustainability Deputy Director
Operations
Environmental Sustainability
In 2023, OC Waste & Recycling initiated the recruitment of a new Deputy Director to lead the County’s efforts on environmental conservation and sustainability. This includes collaboration with key stakeholders for implementation of the County’s First Climate Action Plan (CAP). The countywide CAP establishes sustainable initiatives and priorities related to reducing the County's carbon footprint along with setting policies and goals for waste and recycling management. The CAP set standards for our County and its practices while creating green jobs and providing more opportunities for our most disadvantaged residents. The Deputy Director of Sustainability will research and spearhead grant funding opportunities including the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to benefit County facilities, unincorporated communities, and the county as a whole.
Compliance
The Compliance Support Division plays an instrumental role ensuring that department operations align with all federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Beyond environmental oversight, this division also manages planning, renewable energy initiatives, the project management office, and the reliability maintenance program. Through these efforts, the department is spearheading a progressive approach to organizational efficiency, best available technologies and streamlined processes to ensure reliable, safe, and seamless service across all operations and business management functions.
Business Services
Business Services & External Affairs (BSEA) is instrumental in securing the financial standing for the agency to support all of the operations, planning, contractual, and regulatory requirements. This division also plays a crucial role in ensuring department goals are clearly defined with a strategic plan towards success. BSEA spearheads education and strategic outreach on various key initiatives, including SB 1383 implementation, strategic projects, government relations, accounting, budgets, administration, legislation, procurement, contracts, Information Technology (IT), and our network of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.