Where: Portola Springs Community Center, Native American Room, 900 Tomato Springs, Irvine.
“Converting Landfill Gas-to-Energy” ~ A Presentation by Montauk
Detail:
Join us for an informational meeting for a proposed Renewable Natural Gas facility at Frank R. Bowerman landfill. The project will convert the landfill gas that is currently being flared into renewable natural gas that will be supplied to SoCalGas.
Paint Recycling: A Simple Way to Make a Difference This Fall
Orange County, CA (October 31, 2024) – This fall, Orange County residents are invited to recycle their leftover paint from November 1-27, 2024, at any of the four Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (HHWCC). The centers, located in Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and San Juan Capistrano, offer a convenient and easy way to drop off paint, primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings.
As the season changes, fall is the perfect time to declutter your storage spaces. Simply place your surplus paint in the trunk of your car and drive to one of our HHWCC locations. Our staff will assist with the unloading process while you stay comfortably in your vehicle. This hassle-free service supports sustainability by ensuring that paint is recycled responsibly. Additionally, any paint dropped off in good condition and inspected by our team will be available to residents to pick up and reuse for free, through our Materials Exchange Program (MEP) at each location.
The paint available in our MEP has been used to support various community projects, including helping to reduce costs for students and parents who volunteer their time to build sets for plays and refurbish doghouses for beloved family pets. This underscores the importance of responsible paint recycling.
Tom Koutroulis, Director of OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) emphasizes, “Recycling unused paint is crucial for effective waste management and actively ensuring proper handling. Since paint cannot be disposed of in landfills, it must either be repurposed through our MEP or recycled via our Paint Care Program. Your actions contribute to our goal of a more sustainable community. These small acts of responsibility and mindfulness with your unused paint go beyond recycling; they also benefit our neighbors.”
Iranzu Morras, PaintCare’s Senior California Program, adds, “We are proud to partner with the County to provide residents a convenient and smart solution to recycle their leftover paint. Community participation provides a beneficial reuse, giving new life to unused paint.”
Participating in this event helps reinforce OCWR’s dedication to environmental stewardship. Residents can also dispose of other household hazardous waste materials such as batteries, cleaning products, electronics, and more, at our HHW collection centers. For more information on accepted items and to find the nearest HHWCC, please visit OCLandfills.com/hazardous-waste. Let’s turn over a new leaf this fall by making a positive impact with your paint recycling!
Event Details:
Date: November 1 – November 27, 2024
Days: Tuesday through Saturday Only
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Locations:
Anaheim Collection Center: 1071 N. Blue Gum Street, 92806
San Juan Capistrano Collection Center: 32250 Avenida La Pata, 92675
About PaintCare
PaintCare is committed to making it easy and convenient for households, businesses, and institutions to recycle postconsumer (leftover) paint in states with paint stewardship laws. A nonprofit organization created by paint manufacturers, PaintCare sets up drop-off locations for leftover paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal, and conducts public education. Nearly 35 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish have been managed by PaintCare’s California program since its launch in 2012. For additional information, visit www.paintcare.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram @WeRecyclePaint.
About OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR)
OCWR serves the County’s solid waste disposal needs through resource recovery, operating public landfills, protecting the local environment, investing in renewable energy enterprises and promoting recycling 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 and three composting greeneries, all serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and its unincorporated areas. OCWR’s three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best.
For more information on household hazardous waste disposal options and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.OCLandfill.com.
FREE STA-Certified Compost Available to Enhance Your Garden
ORANGE COUNTY, CA (October 28, 2024) –OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is excited to announce a countywide Community Compost Giveaway event on Saturday, November 2, from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Orange County residents are invited to any of the three locations: Bee Canyon Greenery (Frank R. Bowerman Landfill) in Irvine, Valencia Greenery (Olinda Alpha Landfill) in Brea, and Capistrano Greenery (Prima Deshecha Landfill) in San Juan Capistrano.
OCWR will be offering ready-to-use compost free of charge. At Frank R. Bowerman and Prima Deshecha landfills, residents are encouraged to bring their own containers or heavy-duty yard waste bags and a shovel to load the compost. At Olinda Alpha Landfill, pre-filled bags of compost will be distributed, with each household limited to four bags, while supplies last.
“OC Waste & Recycling is proud to recycle organic waste into compost that enriches our community’s gardens and landscapes. Our Free Compost Giveaway, on November 2, is a fantastic opportunity for residents to engage in sustainable practices just in time for America Recycles Day on November 15,” said Tom Koutroulis, Director of OCWR. “This initiative is a reminder that by recycling organic materials, we can all make a significant difference for our environment and the future.”
OCWR’s compost has been certified with the Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) by the US Composting Council, ensuring the highest standards of quality. The giveaway aims to supply residents with healthy compost suitable for backyards and home gardens. For more information, visit OCLandfills.com/Compost-Giveaway-November.
Composting pick-up locations include:
Frank R. Bowerman Landfill, 11002 Bee Canyon Access Rd., Irvine
Olinda Alpha Landfill, 1942 N. Valencia Ave., Brea
Prima Deshecha Landfill, 32250 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano
Make an Impact: Celebrate National Recycle Day with OC Waste & Recycling!
Join us in celebrating National Recycle Day, on November 15, by picking up free compost on November 2, and pledging to do your part. This day is dedicated to promoting recycling across the United States through various nationwide events. OC residents can participate by learning more about recycling, composting, and engaging in our America Recycles Day social media contest.
Follow us on social media @OCWaste for a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to Discovery Cube! Residents can enter by making a pledge on our Facebook or Instagram pages about how they plan to recycle on America Recycles Day. To learn more about the contest, visit our website at OCLandfills.com/AmericaRecyclesDay.
Remember, small efforts can lead to significant change. For instance, recycling aluminum saves enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours, while the same item in a landfill can take 80 to 100 years to degrade. This highlights the critical importance of recycling.
For more information, OCWR’s OCRecycleGuide.com is a valuable resource for residents seeking to recycle various items and learn about recycling options. It is also essential to ensure that hazardous items like batteries, paints, and household cleaners do not end up in our landfills. Orange County offers four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers located in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional online recycling education, tips, and quizzes can be found at OCLandfills.com/learn.
About OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR)
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 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, three compost greeneries, all serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and unincorporated areas. OCWR’s three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best. Learn more by visiting the OCWR website at OCLandfills.com.
OCWR provided a virtual informational meeting to learn more about the proposed Bowerman RNG Plant Project. A presentation describing the proposed Bowerman Power RNG Plant Project was made available and the public could answer questions about the public input process.
Background: Bowerman Power LFG, LLC (Bowerman Power) is working with OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) to develop a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production plant (Plant) at FRB Landfill, known as the Bowerman Power RNG Plant Project (Project). Currently, excess landfill gas (LFG) not processed at the existing Bowerman Power Plant requires incineration at the existing adjacent flare station. The new RNG Plant will process this excess LFG and deliver the resulting RNG to Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas). This effort will promote the beneficial reuse of existing and future LFG collected by FRB Landfill, support long-term sustainability goals in the region, and help reduce Orange County’s reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, the Project will contribute to California Public Utility Commission’s Renewable Gas Program to procure RNG made by methane from organic waste from landfills and other sources, reduce the volume of LFG being flared, and help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the FRB Landfill. The RNG plant will have the capacity to process 6,000 standard cubic feet per minute of LFG which is equivalent to avoiding the GHG emissions from 60,196 tons of landfilled waste each year.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): In compliance with CEQA, OCWR has prepared an Initial Study (IS) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and determined the project will not create a significant effect, because Mitigation Measures described in the Initial Study have been added to the project. The proposed MND will be circulated for public review for at least 30 days, in compliance with Section 15073 of the CEQA Guidelines, from October 17, 2024, to November 15, 2024.
The IS/MND is located on the OCWR website at www.oclandfills.com/bp-rng-ceqa; OCWR located at 601 N. Ross Street, 5th Floor, Santa Ana, California, 92701; and Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14261 Yale Avenue, Irvine, CA 92604. OCWR invites the public to provide comments.
At OC Waste & Recycling, we are passionate about resource recovery. That's why we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on an organization that shares our vision for a brighter, more sustainable future: Child Creativity Lab (CCL) in Santa Ana.
At CCL, creativity isn't just a buzzword; it's the driving force behind every workshop, program, and initiative. By infusing art into STEM education, CCL empowers students to approach challenges from unconventional angles, fostering a mindset of innovation and resourcefulness.
As an organization committed to recycling and repurposing, we are inspired by CCL's dedication in Depot for Creative Reuse initiative. This innovative space houses an estimated 9 tons of inventory, primarily salvaged from company waste, alongside a diverse array of reclaimed and upcycled materials generously donated by businesses and individuals. These materials are given new life through art and creativity, serving as the foundation for environmentally friendly projects.
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Reimagining Materials: A plastic marvel crafted by young minds at the Child Creativity Lab
CCL also serves the community in various impactful ways:
Makerspace-On-Wheels Program: CCL brings STEAM enrichment directly to communities, schools, and beyond through workshops and kits crafted from reclaimed materials, fostering hands-on learning experiences.
Creativity in Residence: CCL delivers all of their programs as a wrap-around service to all students, faculty, and parents in a comprehensive, multi-month approach.
Family STEAM Nights: These hands-on STEAM activities bring families together to share in the magic of problem-solving.
Professional Development: CCL equips educators with the tools and confidence to incorporate STEAM, creativity, and project-based learning in their classrooms.
The journey doesn't end in the classroom; it extends far beyond, shaping the paths of students' lives and careers. Tracey Hill at CCL aptly puts it, “We are inspiring the next generation to change the world one student at a time.”
In 2023, Child Creativity Lab increased their impact on students by an impressive 300% and was named the “Outstanding Arts Organization of the Year” in Orange County. Join us in celebrating the Child Creativity Lab's impactful work and supporting their mission to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers in Orange County.
Here's how you can get involved:
Material Donations: Support CCL's mission by donating bulk production scraps, inventory overstock, product samples, or duplicates—all materials must be washed and cleaned.
Corporate Volunteering: Engage your staff in meaningful hands-on volunteering opportunities, from assembling STEAM kits to working directly with students during workshops.
For more information, please visit their website at Childcreativitylab.org. Together, let's inspire creativity and promote sustainability in our community. For information on recyclable materials, visit our website at OCRecycleGuide.com.
This fall, we invite Orange County residents to join us in recycling your leftover paint. From November 1 to November 27, 2024, the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (HHWCC) offers residents a convenient easy way to drop off paint, primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings at one of our collection centers in Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and San Juan Capistrano.
When: November 1 – November 27, 2024
Days: Open Tuesday – Saturday Only
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
HHWCC Locations:
Anaheim Collection Center: 1071 N. Blue Gum Street, 92806
Huntington Beach Collection Center: 17121 Nichols Lane, 92647, Gate 6 (temporarily closed and will reopen in November)
Irvine Collection Center: 6411 Oak Canyon, 92618
San Juan Capistrano Collection Center: 32250 Avenida La Pata, 92675
For your safety, please observe the following regulations in preparing for your visit to the HHWCC:
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers can only accept waste from Orange County residents. Waste will not be accepted from businesses, churches, schools, nonprofit organizations or government agencies.
A maximum of 15 gallons or 125 pounds may be transported per vehicle, per trip (Department of Transportation Requirement). It is illegal to exceed these limits.
Containers larger than five gallons will not be accepted.
Containers will NOT be returned, except for oil containers, upon request.
Materials must be in original containers (except motor oil, fuels and antifreeze).
All containers must have lids, be sturdy, non-leaking, labeled and protected from breakage.
Free Battery Collection Bucket for First 100 Attendees
ORANGE COUNTY, CA (September 5, 2024) – OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is hosting an OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Huntington Beach Corporate Yard.
This collection event provides Orange County residents a safe and convenient opportunity to dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste, including pesticides, household chemicals, automotive products and e-cigarette cartridges. E-waste such as televisions, tablets, old cell phones and computers are also accepted.
Tom Koutroulis, Director of OC Waste & Recycling, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, "Events like these are a crucial part of our commitment to keeping Orange County clean and safe. By participating in this collection event, residents help prevent hazardous waste materials from ending up in landfills and storm water drains. Instead, these materials are properly recycled or disposed of responsibly, ensuring they don’t harm our environment."
Residents are encouraged to place unwanted hazardous waste items in their trunk or truck bed. Upon arrival at the event, trained staff will collect the materials for recycling or proper disposal.
In addition, if Huntington Beach is not close to your home, OCWR also operates three conveniently located Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers in Anaheim, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (except holidays and rainy days).
Anaheim Collection Center -- 1071 N. Blue Gum Street, 92806
Irvine Collection Center -- 6411 Oak Canyon, 92618
San Juan Capistrano Collection Center -- 32250 Avenida La Pata, 92675
For your safety, please observe the following regulations in preparing for your visit:
A maximum of 15 gallons or 125 pounds may be transported per vehicle, per trip (Department of Transportation Requirement).
Containers larger than five gallons will not be accepted.
Containers will NOT be returned.
Materials must be in original containers (except motor oil, fuels and antifreeze).
All containers must have lids, be sturdy, non-leaking, labeled and protected from breakage.
For more information on the proper disposal of household hazardous waste, visit OCLandfills.com/hazardous-waste or follow @OCWaste on social media. For general recycling questions, visit OCRecycleGuide.com.
About OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR)
OCWR serves the County’s solid waste disposal needs through resource recovery, operating public landfills, protecting the local environment, investing in renewable energy enterprises and promoting recycling 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 and three composting greeneries, all serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and its unincorporated areas. OCWR’s three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best.
For more information on household hazardous waste disposal options and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.OCLandfill.com.
