Frequently we're faced with the dilemma of not knowing whether an item should be recycled. Wanting to the help the environment, you place an item in the recycling bin without being certain it belongs there. This is called wishcycling, and although well-intentioned it can cause more harm than good. Placing an item like a cardboard pizza box with leftover grease into the recycling bin can potentially send a good batch of recyclables to the landfill due to contamination. Other misplaced items, such as wire hangers, can also damage sorting machinery at collection facilities.

Recycling the right way will benefit the environment. To stop wishcycling you can:

• Contact your hauler or local recycling coordinator for more information on what goes into your blue bin
• Learn what goes into your recycling bin versus what needs to be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
• Research recycling and upcycling online

For more information, visit oclandfills.com. Follow us on social media @OCWaste for more waste management and recycling tips.

OC Waste and Recycling (OCWR) received three Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). OCWR was recognized for their involvement in creating the Neighbor Support Portal, submitting an Organics Management Plan and aiding in the development of the OC Safety Application.

The Neighbor Support Portal allows residents to submit comments, questions and concerns regarding OCWR landfill sites and headquarters. The portal acts as a central location for OCWR employees to track, respond and store submissions. The program was developed by OCWR and OCIT.

Continually evolving legislation required OCWR to respond to California’s new regulation that no longer allows counties to accept residential processed green material or provide cities with diversion credit. OCWR’s Organics Management Plan – Developing a Regional Organics Program, was recognized for its approach and results since the program was implemented.

OC Safety Application, a site designed to be a one-stop-shop for all employee safety training, allows employees to keep track of mandatory, completed and uncompleted courses. The award was submitted by OCIT with OCWR acting as a sponsored customer.

The 2019 achievement award winners were announced May 6 and will be recognized in Nevada this summer.

OC Waste & Recycling Speakers Bureau members spent two days at Viejo Elementary in Mission Viejo spreading messages about recycling, composting and ways to keep unnecessary trash out of our landfills. With nearly 500 students stopping by the OCWR booth during the two-day event, OCWR staff had its hands full while celebrating Earth Day at the Viejo Elementary grant-funded garden. 

Earth Day at Viejo Elementary 2019 from OC Waste & Recycling on Vimeo.

Building responses to industry-transforming legislative mandates affecting organic waste management characterized 2018 for OCWR.

We pivoted from promoting recycling to practicing it, with a dual focus on the County as a jurisdiction and a regional leader for the cities. Through this annual report, we invite you to review our progress and see where the waste industry is headed.

View our web version of our annual report here.

( View PDF )

Today is a great reminder to continuously protect our environment. Being environmentally-friendly doesn't require drastic changes to your daily routine. Celebrate Earth Day with these simple changes:  

• Recycle old newspapers, office paper and junk mail
• Return empty bottles and cans to a recycling center or place in your recycling bin
• Donate unwanted clothes to family, friends or thrift stores
• Be more sustainable by composting and starting a home garden
• Know what goes in your trash bin and what goes to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center

For more information, visit oclandfills.com. Follow us on social media @ocwaste for more recycling and waste management tips. Looking for an educational and fun activity for the whole family? Take the EcoChallenge at Discovery Cube OC until April 28th.

Last week we celebrated World Health Day. If you haven't dropped-off your old or expired medications, here's another chance. OC will be participating in National Take Back Day on April 27.
 

Happy World Health Day - a great day to check your old medication
Since 1948, April 7 has been designated as World Health Day. It's a day that brings awareness to medical issues worldwide.

OC Waste & Recycling encourages you to use the day to check the status of your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and properly dispose of those that are expired or unused. Properly disposing of expired and unused medications is very important to prevent ingestion by others and to keep it out of local waters.

Medications can be thrown away. Here's what to do and what not to do:

DO NOT

• Flush down the toilet
• Put in the garbage disposal
• Pour down your drain

DO

• Place pills or liquids in a sealable bag with hot water
• Add kitty litter or old coffee grounds
• Seal bag; place it in your trash bin

If you choose to not throw away your medications, there are various drop-off locations offered throughout Orange County.

Also, know what to do with sharps, which are devices or objects with corners, edges or projections capable of cutting or piercing skin or regular waste bags. For example, injection needles and razor blades. Sharps are considered household hazardous waste and should be dealt with carefully. These do not belong in the trash. All four Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers accept sharps. When taking sharps to an HHW Collection Center, place them in a container with a firmly capped lid to prevent any material from falling out.

For more information, visit our website at oclandfills.com. Follow us on social media @ocwaste for more recycling and waste management tips.

Don't Be (April) Fooled by Landfill Myths

Can we fool you? Celebrate April Fool’s Day by testing your knowledge on Orange County landfills!

A landfill is a dump.

False. Dumps are just holes in the ground. Landfills are highly engineered to steward the environment. Orange County landfills are lined and prevent waste byproducts from entering the groundwater.

Trash can be used as energy.

True. Buried trash naturally creates methane gas, which is collected and repurposed by a system of pipes, carefully placed under the fill areas. A vacuum system draws the methane into the pipes, where it is sent to an onsite power plant and converted into renewable energy. Collectively, powerplants at Orange County landfills produce enough energy to power approximately 51,160 homes annually.

There are no animals at a landfill.

False. All three active landfills include habitat restoration areas. OCWR has restored approximately 388 acres to offset landfill related impacts and to protect the diverse wildlife and plant life that thrives in the surrounding areas. These restoration areas provide homes and breeding grounds for various species, including the threatened Coastal California gnatcatcher and endangered Least-bell’s vireo birds.

To learn more about Orange County landfills, visit our website and watch our five minute video OC Landfills – The Inside Story. Make sure to follow us on social media @OCWaste for recycling and waste management tips and information.

Can we fool you? Celebrate April Fool’s Day by testing your knowledge on Orange County landfills!

A landfill is a dump.

False. Dumps are just holes in the ground. Landfills are highly engineered to steward the environment. Orange County landfills are lined and prevent waste byproducts from entering the groundwater.

Trash can be used as energy.

True. Buried trash naturally creates methane gas, which is collected and repurposed by a system of pipes, carefully placed under the fill areas. A vacuum system draws the methane into the pipes, where it is sent to an onsite power plant and converted into renewable energy. Collectively, powerplants at Orange County landfills produce enough energy to power approximately 51,160 homes annually.

There are no animals at a landfill.

False. All three active landfills include habitat restoration areas. OCWR has restored approximately 388 acres to offset landfill related impacts and to protect the diverse wildlife and plant life that thrives in the surrounding areas. These restoration areas provide homes and breeding grounds for various species, including the threatened Coastal California gnatcatcher and endangered Least-bell’s vireo birds.

To learn more about Orange County landfills, visit our website and watch our five minute video OC Landfills – The Inside Story. Make sure to follow us on social media @OCWaste for recycling and waste management tips and information.

Although Global Recycling Day is celebrated on March 18th, we can celebrate the benefits of sustainability all year long. A great way to make a positive impact on the environment is to reduce, reuse and recycle.
 

Reduce

Limiting the amount of plastic we use can be a fantastic first step in forming good sustainability habits in our households.
 

Reuse

Instead of buying new items, considering repairing them. Plenty of items in our homes, from our phones to our clothes can be repurposed or repaired.
 

Recycle

Learning how to correctly recycle is equally as important as recycling. Make sure to clean and empty any items before placing them in your bins. Also, check with your hauler to confirm what goes in each bin as recycling can vary by city. And don’t forget to bring electronic waste and any hazardous household items to one of our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers for free and safe disposal.
 

For more information, visit our website at oclandfills.com