Orange County Landfills: Talking Trash*

The Orange County waste disposal system is efficient, well balanced, geographically distributed, and works to mitigate disturbance to nearby neighborhoods. Response: <b>Agrees with finding.</b> OC Waste & Recycling effectively operates some of the nation's largest landfills, geographically located to best serve the needs of Orange County.

The Orange County landfill system would be disrupted by the closure of any one of the landfills. <b>Agrees with finding.</b> Closure of any one region within the system would require Response: modifications in operations and planning to ensure the long-term service needs of the County of Orange (County) are met. However, at current disposal rates, the overall landfill system has sufficient capacity to meet the County's waste disposal needs until 2102.

The Olinda Alpha Landfill is a possible candidate for closure in 2021 if negotiations with City of Brea prove unsuccessful. Disagrees partially with the finding. While the current Solid Waste Facility Permit Response: (SWFP) estimates Olinda Alpha Landfill (Olinda) will close in 2021, this date was identified based on engineering estimates of when the landfill would reach its design capacity. Due to fluctuations in tonnage received, there is currently an estimated 10 years of airspace remaining. OC Waste & Recycling intends to seek a revision of its SWFP so that it more accurately reflects the date Olinda will reach its design capacity.

Importing trash from outside of the County, initiated to help the County survive the 1994 bankruptcy, continues even though the bankruptcy bonds were retired as of July 2017. Agrees with finding. The County has Importation Agreements to help augment Response: landfill disposal rates. This continued revenue source contributes to lower-than- average disposal rates for County residents and businesses.

Continued importation of trash tends to decrease Orange County landfill life. Agrees with finding. Any waste disposed at landfills decreases landfill capacity. Response: However, at this point and at current disposal rates there is capacity in County landfills to extend solid waste disposal until 2102. With the current and pending legislation from CalRecycle, the governing body of the waste industry, demands for increased recycling and diversion from landfills continue to reduce the amount of disposal further extending the estimated closure date based on fill/design. <b>RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES:</b>