Join us September 20, 2012 at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach
for our upcoming workshop.  This meeting will include the election of
our 2012-2013 Board.  Watch for more information on topics and speakers.

Southern California SWANA Founding Chapter 2012 / 2013 Proposed Board of Directors

 

President - Diko Melkonian, City of Long Beach

Vice President - Susan Moulton, Waste Management

Treasurer - Jeff Southern, OC Waste & Recycling

Secretary - Brad Gust, Rehrig Pacific

Past President - Mike Giancola, OC Waste & Recycling

Chapter Director - John Gulledge, LACSD

Corporate Director - Peter Woodfill, CH2M Hill

Corporate Director - Michelle Leonard, HDR, Inc.

Corporate Director - Laith Ezzet, HF&H Consultants, LLC

Public Director - Chuck Boehmke, LACSD

Public Director - Mary Valerio, City of San Diego

Public Director - Jim Kuhl, City of Long Beach

Public Director - Khalil Gharios, City of Los Angeles

As a SWANA member, you should be closely following CalRecycle's Plan to implement AB 341 (Chapter 476 or 2011). As stated in Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts comment letter to CalRecycle dated July 13, 2012:

"The Plan would cause an unnecessary shift from the diversion, sustainable, and locally -suited diversion infrastructure to a costly, state-prescribed solid waste management system that may not be feasible to implement due to funding issues, siting difficulties in urban areas, and the lack of sufficient markets for end products."

In this edition of the Newsletter, we are featuring the comments submitted to CalRecycle by the Sanitation Districts and a joint letter submitted by the League of Cities, the Regional Council of Rural Counties, the Sanitation Districts and the California State Association of Counties.

As written, the 75% Plan will undermine each jurisdiction's current waste diversion programs and restrict future local choices to implement cost effective programs based on local conditions and funding sources. We should not be limiting diversion options and technologies. Quite the contrary, we should be encouraging research and development in the most sustainable options available to best manager our solid waste. Rather than building on over 20 yeas of successful efforts, the Plan attempts to reset the clock to 1989. Our communities and the residents we serve cannot afford "The Plan."

Read More from the LTF...  

Letter to Carroll Mortensen... 

Landfill operations in Orange County took an unusual turn this spring as OC Waste & Recycling was called on to actively support a criminal investigation. Following a trail of evidence, Orange Police Department homicide investigators believed the bodies of two victims might have been disposed of and buried at either the Olinda Alpha Landfill or Frank R. Bowerman Landfill. Police investigators contacted the OC Waste & Recycling with their plan to use cadaver dogs to search the landfills.

Landfill staff worked closely with police to navigate the excavation at the landfills which collectively accept over 11,000 tons per day.   Initial challenges included isolating and securing the existing fill area, as well as relocating operations to ensure the investigation would not interrupt daily operations. Using GPS technology, landfill staff identified the location of the trash buried on specific dates, then spread the trash in layers for specially-trained dogs and handlers to inspect. Fourteen dogs took turns over three weeks inspecting trash.  

Search and rescue dogs and their volunteer handlers came from all over Southern California to assist in the investigation. Additional landfill resources such as light standards and overtime operators were brought in so a majority of the investigation could be conducted on weekends and after hours when the volunteer dog teams were available Service dogs from the California Rescue Dog Association and several sheriffs' departments participated in this operation. It can take 1½ to 2 years to train a dog and handler with the skills to be mission ready.

While the search produced no results, OC Waste & Recycling was proud to be of assistance and used as a resource in the police investigation.