Award exemplifies commitment to proper and compliant waste disposal
Santa Ana, Calif. (June 7, 2018) — OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) has received one of the waste industry’s most important awards, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) 2018 Gold Award for Landfill Management Excellence of the Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.
The rigorous SWANA award program requires an entry submission that details evaluation criteria ranging from landfill siting, design and construction and environmental controls and monitoring to regulatory compliance and public acceptance, appearance and aesthetics. Modern landfills are highly regulated by multiple resource agencies and must pass frequent inspections to ensure compliance, which keeps them safe for the public.
“I am incredibly proud that we have earned one of our industry’s highest awards, said OCWR Director Tom Koutroulis. “While we don’t work specifically to win awards, this award is a gratifying testament to OCWR’s excellence at all three of our landfill sites. OCWR’s landfill management excellence is founded in environmental stewardship, contemporary operational techniques, regulatory and safety compliance and being a good neighbor,” Koutroulis said.
The Prima Deshecha Landfill is a modern, multi-use resource recovery center that provides waste management services to the cities of south Orange County. In addition to the landfill for commercial and public waste disposal, it includes a Hazardous Household Waste Collection Center, a materials recovery facility and a natural habitat area.
SWANA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management through their commitment to utilizing effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, advancing worker and community health and safety, and implementing successful public education and outreach programs. Programs also must demonstrate that they are fiscally and environmentally responsible through their compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.
The award will be presented at SWANA’s annual conference, WASTECON®, on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.
About SWANA:
For more than 50 years, the Solid Waste Association of North America has been the leading professional association in the solid waste field. The association serves more than 10,000 members throughout North America, and thousands more with conferences, certifications, publications and technical training courses. For more on SWANA, see swana.org.
About OC Waste & Recycling
OCWR serves the County’s solid waste disposal needs by providing waste management services, operating public landfills, protecting the local environment, investing in renewable energy enterprises and promoting recycling in order to ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations. The department manages one of the nation's premier solid waste disposal systems, serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and unincorporated areas. OCWR’s three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best.
For more on OC Waste & Recycling, visit oclandfills.com and follow @OCWaste.
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