The OC Board of Supervisors has approved a $88 million excavation contract for the Prima Deshecha Landfill, which will significantly extend its lifespan, according to officials.
By increasing the landfill’s capacity, this project will effectively address the waste disposal needs of south Orange County until 2102, ensuring the efficient management of waste. The current area for waste acceptance is projected to reach capacity in 2050; therefore, the east side of the property has been prepared to accommodate future needs.
Sukut Construction will lead the project, which involves excavating 7 million cubic yards of dirt and rock and constructing a protective liner to safeguard the surrounding watershed. Additionally, the project will incorporate a landfill gas collection system and a facility drainage control system to enhance operations.
Spanning across 65 acres of the current landfill property in San Juan Capistrano, this construction endeavor will provide approximately 12.3 million cubic yards of additional landfill capacity, contributing to a more sustainable waste disposal strategy for the region, as explained by Koutroulis, the director of OC Waste and Recycling.
Construction is scheduled to commence in October and conclude by November 2025, bringing about immense improvements to OC Waste and Recycling’s efficiency in serving the public:
“These enhancements will optimize our operations and allow us to better serve the community,” Koutroulis remarked.
Katrina Foley, the Fifth District Supervisor responsible for the south Orange County area, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the long-term benefits of this investment for future generations.
Once construction is finalized, some customers may be directed to the new zone for waste disposal. As the current zone reaches maximum capacity, all customers will be guided through tunnels under Avenida La Pata to the newly developed areas.
Last year, there was an increase in traffic from other landfills in the county to the Prima Deshecha facility. In March 2022, a construction project was approved to redesign the entrance and construct new flares to capture methane emissions from the landfill. As part of this initiative, the energy plant was also relocated to convert some of the gas into usable energy, generating enough power for approximately 6,000 homes. This endeavor cost approximately $22.5 million.
Managed by the county since 1976, the Prima Deshecha landfill operates alongside the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine and the Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea.
Currently, the Prima Deshecha landfill receives about 70% of its waste from the public, with the remaining portion coming from commercial sources. On average, it receives 2,735 tons of solid waste per day and 854 waste hauling vehicles per day, a testament to the landfill’s significance in waste management, according to Koutroulis.
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