Battery disposal is one of the most important rules when it comes to the managing a successful waste stream. Not only do batteries pose an environmental threat to our landfills, they consume valuable landfill space and can even combust resulting in fires.

Scientists in Singapore have discovered another reason why you should recycle batteries - they can contain precious metals that can be used to create new batteries! Check out the article below for the full scoop and remember, our four FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers accept a variety of batteries from OC residents!

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-use-fruit-peel-to-turn-old-lithium-ion-batteries-into-new/

Who's ready to Talk Some Trash, have some fun and win prizes?  The Anaheim Ducks and OC Waste & Recycling are bringing OC residents a six week “Talking Trash” trivia challenge for cool prizes and trashy bragging rights. Be one of six weekly winners or one of two “Talking Trash” Champions.  Starting Thursday, September 10, at 10am and every Thursday through October 15, visit @AnaheimDucks Facebook page for “Talking Trash” trivia.  One weekly lucky fan with the correct answer will be randomly selected to win an $50 Anaheim Ducks Team Store gift card. At the end of the six-week challenge, two participants will win the “Talking Trash” Champions title and a Ducks Prize Package worth $100. Check out the County’s OCRecycleGuide.com to brush up on recycle right knowledge. For official contest details, visit the Anaheim Ducks Talking Trash contest page here.

In observance of Labor Day, OCWR's landfills and Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers will be closed on Monday, September 7.  Both will resume normal operations on Tuesday, September 8.

Holiday schedules for Orange County residential trash collection may be confirmed with local haulers. For more information on hours of operation, visit oclandfills.com or call 714-834-400.

With school back in session throughout many cities, OC Waste & Recycling has many tools available to help both students and families take a break from the books and help ease this unusual transition. Have item's that have been cluttering your work space and unsure where to dispose of them? Visit OCRecycleGuide.com then take the Recycle Guide Quiz! Doing so will ensure you do your best to re-purpose items and keep unnecessary waste out of our landfills.

Ever wonder what life is like at a landfill?  You might not be able to take a real tour, but you can take the Olinda Alpha Landfill virtual tour and download our anatomy of a landfill poster. Think you're a landfill expert? Test your knowledge by taking the anatomy of a landfill quiz!

This year,  getting back into school presents unprecedented challenges due to the current pandemic. The County of Orange has many valuable resources for residents trying to navigate their way through essential services and support. Be sure to check out OC Libraries curb-side pick up program, e-books and audio books selections to support school projects. For family support services, visit  OC's Covid-19 Resource Directory and the OC resident assistance page for information regarding child care for essential workers, food assistance and other social services. Although not everyone is home schooling, this article offers some additional mindful tips that can make going back to school this year a success.

For more information and waste and recycling tips, follow @OCWaste on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

OC Waste & Recycling offers OC residents a simple drive-through service to properly dispose of common household items such as paints, batteries, light bulbs, pesticides and much more. The drive-thru service at county Household Hazardous Waste collection Centers (HHWCCs) is designed to make hazardous waste disposal quick and convenient.

How can we ensure lines move quickly? Due to COVID-19, any vehicles with items placed in a seating area will require visitors to exit the vehicle to unload items onto a provided cart.  By placing the items in the vehicle's trunk, collection center staff can quickly and easily unload items and keep lines moving.

For more information about the HHWCC's CLICK HERE and be sure to follow us @OCWaste on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Virtual Meeting Details:

• Thursday, July 30, 2020
• 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Residents who wish to view OCWRs virtual presentation must download Skype for Business. 

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 CLICK HERE to download Skype for Business for Windows or Mac.

After downloading Skype for business CLICK HERE to join meeting.

Residents may also join by phone by calling the following number:

• 949-543-0845, Conference ID: 764301906#

Cannot join the meeting? Don't worry! OCWR will record the meeting and post it for viewing the following business day.

Meeting Materials

• Draft Notice of Preparation-Initial Study
• FAQ

Public Comment Card - There are three ways to provide comments on any of the SEIR documents during designated public review periods:

1. Submit your comments during the public meeting

2. Mail Comment Card to: 

     Kevin Gaxiola

     Orange County Waste & Recycling

     601 N. Ross St. 5th Floor

     Santa Ana, CA 92701

3. Email comments to: Kevin Gaxiola, OCWR Communications Specialist, at Kevin.Gaxiola@ocwr.ocgov.com

August 21, 2020 public comment period ends

Kevin Gaxiola, OCWR Communications Specialist

Kevin.Gaxiola@ocwr.ocgov.com

714-380-9641

https://meet.lync.com/ocgov-ocwr/ruth.wardwell/52D11TMB

What happens to our trash at the end of the day?

That question “what happens to our trash” is often asked by kids. The answer is, it goes to one of Orange County’s three landfills, where OC Waste & Recycling employees safely bury and cover it in environmentally engineered areas six days per week.

At the end of each day, landfill crews take special measures to put each active area to “bed by covering it after it has been smashed and compacted.

The daily cover operation keeps trash in its place, minimizes odors and keeps unwanted pests at bay. The entire process is a well-choreographed routine, combining movement of approximately 1,500 cubic yards of soil, coordination of multiple heavy equipment vehicles and several site staff. In one quick hour, the daily cover is complete. A single daily cover operation at the Frank R. Bowerman filmed in this recent time lapse video, includes:

• 4 trash dozers
• 1 dirt dozer to push soil cover
• 2 BG wheel dozers with back graders to clean the landing
• 2 trash compactors
• 3 scrapers
• 2 water trucks
• 12 site laborers for litter control

The daily cover operation is one of many measures OC Waste & Recycling implements to protect and steward the environment and ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations. Follow us @OCWaste on social for more interesting landfill facts and up-to-date service information.

Click the image below to view the time lapse video:

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OC Waste and Recycling (OCWR) received two 2020 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). OCWR was recognized for the development and implementation of a Metal Recycling Pilot Program at the Prima Deshecha Landfill and for creation and launch of the OCRecycleGuide.com website.

The Metal Recycling Pilot Project was launched in October 2019 to promote a new service to county residents, to help reduce the amount of materials being landfilled at the site and to create a new stream of income for the County. The program was extended through August 2020 as a public-private partnership with OC Public Works and a long-term contract with a metal recycling company. By removing metal materials from the waste stream coming into the landfills and processing them, OCWR has effectively increased Prima Deshecha Landfill’s airspace, which is directly related to the capacity and life of the landfill.

OCWR developed, implemented and launched OCRecycleguide.com in September 2019, a regional search tool to answer residential questions about where and how to properly recycle various items. It connects users to the optimum contacts and resources specific to their place of residence, while supporting statewide waste diversion goals and preserving landfill capacity. It was developed by OCWR and the OC Information Technology Team (OCIT).

Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more.

Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.　

The 2020 achievement award winners celebrate 50 years of County innovation. For more information on award criteria and winners, visit NACo here.