In celebration of Earth Day, OCWR is partnering with OCPL to bring programs to Orange County and build connections while doing our part to protect the planet.
In celebration of Earth Day, OCWR is partnering with OCPL to bring programs to Orange County and build connections while doing our part to protect the planet.
In celebration of Earth Day, OCWR is partnering with OCPL to bring programs to Orange County and build connections while doing our part to protect the planet.
In celebration of Earth Day, OCWR is partnering with OCPL to bring programs to Orange County and build connections while doing our part to protect the planet.
This annual event is the longest running home show in all of California. We draw our audience from the highest income area of Orange County. We have exclusive features in our Spring Show that brings qualified, engaged attendees to this event ready to begin their home improvement project plans and landscape upgrades for 2025.
Bella and Compost at 1-11-25 PD event - Cover Blog Photo.jpeg
Body
At OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR), we are proud to support initiatives that promote environmental sustainability within our community. Bella Coveyou, a dedicated Girl Scout from San Juan Capistrano, has taken on an inspiring mission to spread the word about the free compost and mulch. Through her Gold Award project, Bella is helping increase awareness in her community of this valuable resource. Her efforts not only help reduce waste but also promote greener landscaping practices. Read below to learn more about Bella’s inspiring work.
Bella Coveyou
Hi, I’m Bella Coveyou! I’m a junior in high school, a resident of San Juan Capistrano, and a Girl Scout working on my Gold Award. I’m excited to share my environmental sustainability project and its potential impact on our community.
My love for horses started when I was just three years old with my first pony ride at Irvine Regional Park. A field trip to Rawhide Ranch in third grade gave me the chance to ride horses, and my passion only grew from there. Over the past three years, my relationship with my horse, Aviator, has deepened my love for both riding and the environment. Through this connection, I realized that horse manure can actually be a valuable resource for compost. Inspired by Aviator, I’m working to promote sustainable practices, using horse manure to improve soil and help reduce waste, all while doing my part to protect the environment for future generations.
As a 12-year Girl Scout veteran, I’ve been fortunate to combine my passions by tackling a unique challenge: recycling horse manure and green waste into compost for landscapers, gardeners, and homeowners. With support from OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR), my Gold Award project aims to increase community access to these incredible free resources while promoting environmental sustainability.
From My Garden to Yours
This project began in my own backyard. My family’s landscaper, Pascual Gonzalez, was one of the first to benefit from OCWR’s compost program. After obtaining an open pass permit, Pascual began picking up compost weekly to nourish our garden’s fruit trees.
Pascual estimates he’ll collect 35 truckloads of compost and mulch this year—equivalent to 52 tons! His enthusiasm is a testament to how valuable this resource can be. If just 100 landscapers like Pascual join this effort, we could distribute over 5,000 tons of compost annually. That’s a huge step toward a greener, healthier Orange County.
Image
Bella getting compost soil samples to share with landscapers.JPG
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re inspired by this mission, here’s how you can make a difference:
Landscapers: Sign up for an open pass by contacting OC Waste & Recycling at (714) 834-2158.
Residents/Gardeners: Request compost deliveries from your landscaper or schedule a free compost pickup by visiting OCLandfills.com/compost.
HOAs and Cities: Encourage the use of compost in shared spaces, medians, and city-maintained areas to promote sustainable landscaping.
Community Leaders and Educators: Spread the word about OCWR’s compost program and its environmental benefits. Advocate for sustainable practices in schools, community organizations, and local events.
Girl Scouts: Consider taking on a Gold Award, Silver Award, or Bronze Award project focused on composting in your own community, or get involved with a Take Action project to raise awareness about recycling and composting.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
I’ve learned so much about leadership, teamwork, and the power of small actions to spark meaningful change. Thank you to everyone supporting my project, spreading the word about the events, or championing sustainable practices in our community. Together, we can make Orange County greener and healthier—one truckload of compost at a time.
Bella Coveyou San Juan Capistrano Girl Scout Troop 3315
We're excited to announce that free compost and mulch are now available in Brea at the Valencia Greenery, located at the Olinda Alpha Landfill! This is a great opportunity for our community to enhance their gardens.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit:
How to Get Your Free Compost & Mulch To get started, please make sure to make an appointment before heading to the site. This ensures a smooth and well-organized process for all visitors. We recommend scheduling your appointment well in advance, and please be aware that you must exit the site by 4 p.m. So, plan your visit accordingly and give yourself enough time to fill your containers before the 4 p.m. deadline.
When you arrive, remember to bring a container for your compost and mulch, as well as a shovel to help you load it. Don’t forget to secure your compost in your vehicle—using a tarp or some kind of cover will keep it from spilling during transit, ensuring you can safely get home with your gardening treasure.
We also ask that you keep an adequate distance between your car and the truck in front of you while driving to the site. This will help maintain safety for everyone.
Never Been to the Greenery? If you’ve never visited the Valencia Greenery before, don’t worry! We’ve made it easy for you. Watch our video at https://vimeo.com/1044426398 or below, which provides clear driving directions, so you can find your way with ease. We also encourage you to check out our map at oclandfill.com/compost for more detailed information and directions.
We’re excited to be able to offer this resource to the community and we hope that it makes your gardening projects easier and more sustainable. We can’t wait to see you at the Valencia Greenery and help you take home compost and mulch for your next gardening project!
“The 65th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair will be held on Saturday, March 22rd, 2025. The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Capistrano Mission on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March, 19th. The Parade and Mercado Street Faire offer a full day of family fun, celebrating the Old West and the return of the swallows from their winter home in Argentina.”
As we wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on another year of making a positive impact on our communities. OCWR’s Ambassadors attended a variety of events across Orange County, connecting with local residents and sharing valuable resources on recycling, waste diversion, and environmental stewardship. This year, we’re proud to announce a 10% increase in the number of events we attended compared to 2023. Our goal for 2025 is to attend events in all host cities, ensuring Orange County residents have the opportunity to engage with our team and learn about OC Waste & Recycling’s initiatives and services.
From educational festivals to compost giveaways, 2024 has been packed with memorable moments. Here are some of the standout events of this past year.
We kicked off the year with a series of Earth Day events at libraries county-wide. We partnered with OC Public Libraries to educate residents on the fun and wiggly side of caring for the environment. These hands-on activities were perfect for kids and adults alike, featuring fun games, informative talks, a vermicomposting presentation and DIY recycling projects. At the Children’s Water Education Festival in March, our Ambassadors helped young minds understand the importance of composting and organics recycling with a hands-on activity of vermicomposting. We are looking forward to returning to this event in 2025 and engaging with Orange County youth.
Image
IMG_0396.jpg
Attendees getting up close and personal with the vermicomposting presentation.
Our compost giveaway events continued this year in May and November. Hosted at all three active landfills, the event provided attendees with a chance to get down and dirty with nutrient-rich compost and mulch made from green waste produced by OC residents and diverted from the landfills. In total, the two events hosted 1800 vehicles and 462 tons of compost distributed.
Image
IMG_0450 (1).jpg
Cars lining up for free compost at Prima Deshecha Landfill, San Juan Capistrano.
Throughout the year, our Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Centers hosted various recycling events to help local residents safely dispose of hazardous materials. One key event was the marine flare disposal day held offsite at Newport Beach on June 22, where boaters and residents could safely dispose of expired flares at no cost. This drive-through event helped mitigate the health and safety risks posed by flares, which are classified as explosives. Additionally, our HHW centers continued to offer paint recycling and other hazardous waste disposal services, keeping harmful materials out of our landfills and protecting the environment. These events reflect our ongoing commitment to providing safe, convenient disposal options for the community.
Image
IMG_0841.JPG
OC Waste & Recycling marine flare collection event held at Newport Beach on June 22, 2024.
Image
20241101_160815854_iOS (1).jpg
PaintCare event held at Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Centers in November 2024.
Irvine Global Village Festival, held on Saturday, October 5, featured a 40’ x 10’ booth that welcomed guests to enter the area and engage with OCWR staff. The booth itself was the product of several ideas inspired by new and longtime Ambassadors, engineers, laborers and maintenance staff. Ambassadors staffed this bustling family-friendly event in host city Irvine, and provided information on our services, such as the local Frank R. Bowerman Landfill, Bee Canyon Greenery and Irvine’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center.
We also had a blast attending the San Juan Summer Nites in host city San Juan Capistrano where our Ambassadors met with concert-goers and shared information about waste reduction and recycling. On March 29, OCWR caught visitors hook, line and sinker at Supervisor Chaffee’s Fishing Derby at Tri-City Park in Placentia! Nature lovers of all ages picked up Angels bags and learned about OCWR’s public services.
We scored big with the Anaheim Ducks at their First Flight Field Trip. OC Waste & Recycling partnered with the Anaheim Ducks, Discovery Cube and the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) to participate in this annual event. More than 13,000 students from across Orange County joined the fun, learning about various STEM sciences and organics recycling. We also partnered with the Angels Baseball Foundation and OCDE to host the Angels Adopt-A-School Program, with a goal to highlight Orange County schools committed to environmental stewardship and initiatives that support waste diversion and education. Angels Baseball players visited the five selected schools during a special assembly with prizes, game tickets and a grant for $2,000.
Image
thumbnail_IMG_1328 (1).jpg
Filming the segment about proper waste disposal and recycling habits to be played during the event.
Image
APA_20240426_30057.JPG
Angel's Adopt-A-School assembly at Jackson Elementary in Santa Ana.
As we look to the future, we are excited to continue our commitment to public outreach. In 2025, we plan to expand our presence, bringing our educational resources and community-driven programs to even more local events. We’re excited to see what next year holds and to continue building a stronger, more sustainable future for Orange County.
Want to find out where we’ll be in 2025? Visit OClandfills.com for updates on upcoming events, or follow us on social media @OCWaste to stay in the loop. We look forward to seeing you at an event near you next year!
