Tom

Director's

Message

View The Video

Advancing sustainability with SB 1383 compliance, renewable energy projects, and innovative waste solutions.

Hi, I’m Tom Koutroulis, Director of OC Waste & Recycling. We continue steady progress building on the visionary work started in the 1940s to address the waste disposal needs of a growing population. With over 3.2 million residents and evolving legislative, regulatory, and environmental challenges, we recognized the traditional waste management model is no longer sufficient. The past six years have marked significant change for us, and 2024 is no different.

We’ve successfully achieved our second straight year of SB 1383 compliance, ensuring organic waste recycling for both residential and commercial sectors in unincorporated Orange County. Through our three OC Greenery operations, we exceeded the County's mandated organic waste procurement targets and repurposed 40,000 tons of compost and mulch for community use. We also increased critical partnerships to expand compost and mulch markets regionally, which is the foundation for a sustainable, circular economy for these products.

OC Waste & Recycling achieved its second straight year of SB 1383 compliance, repurposing 40,000 tons of compost and mulch for community use.

Comport for Prima Community

One notable milestone was the start of negotiations for the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) agreement with our 34 cities and special district partners. This agreement will provide long-term solutions for this new age of SB 1383 compliance, waste disposal, recycling, and local infrastructure.

We also advanced Phase 2 of our Organics to Renewable Natural Gas and Energy pathway (ORNGE) with plans to develop two Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facilities, one at Frank R. Bowerman Landfill and another at closed Coyote Canyon Landfill. These facilities will convert landfill gas to RNG for use in SoCalGas pipelines, supporting renewable energy goals and emissions reduction and management.

In 2024, OC Waste & Recycling advanced Phase 2 of the Organics to Renewable Natural Gas and Energy pathway, planning two facilities to convert landfill gas into renewable natural gas (RNG).

Additionally, OC Waste & Recycling is enhancing its organics operations with more efficient composting processes and food recycling capabilities. We are collaborating with the OC Sanitation District and wastewater treatment facilities to establish regional standards for Source Separated Organics (SSO) programs to further support cities. Every day, our team explores new resource recovery opportunities for optimized use of landfill space, new technologies and material recovery options to be a leading example as a world-class operation.

Drone

In 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved 39 new positions for the department, we expanded in-house expertise through training, and formalized an internal reorganization to ensure a new era of compliance, safety, and operational excellence. Capital improvement projects at Frank R. Bowerman and Prima Deshecha landfills are progressing to optimize landfill space and recovery efforts.

Most importantly, our commitment extends to state and federal advocacy. The County initiated its own Preliminary Climate Action Plan and pursued $25M in federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding for Smart Landfilling technologies. While we didn’t secure the grant, we remain dedicated to securing funding for these technologies, which will protect public health and the environment across 20 closed and three active landfill sites.

OCWR Staffs

Our efforts are being recognized. In October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invited OC Waste & Recycling as the only municipal landfill operator to contribute to discussions on industry changes, and we also met with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in December. These efforts are complimented by numerous tours and pilot demonstrations, showcasing our innovative programs to residential, industry, and international audiences.

Our agency remains committed to driving positive change in the waste and recycling industry. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our partners, legislators, and industry leaders. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Signature

Tom Koutroulis

Director, OC Waste & Recycling