OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) receives $3 million from CalRecycle, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. The grant award will enable OCWR to expand composting operations at the Frank R. Bowerman (FRB) Landfill in Irvine. “OCWR is developing composting operations co-located at each of the County’s landfills to meet statewide organic materials recycling and climate change mandates,” said Tom Koutroulis, director, OC Waste & Recycling. “This funding will assist in the build out of current infrastructure providing regional organic waste management solutions that are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to recycle organic waste from disposal.”
OCWR will utilize the funds, approved by Orange County Board of Supervisors on March 22, 2022, to enlarge the Bee Canyon Greenery (BCG) located at FRB from 18 acres to 30 acres, increasing the amount of processed green material and processed agricultural material to a maximum of 437 tons per day.
BCG creates quality compost from green waste collected from residential homes across Orange County, including yard trimmings and organic waste. By composting, residents help reduce greenhouse gasses and conserves landfill capacity. The use of compost creates healthy soils by providing nutrients for plant growth as well as improves water retention and quality.