South OC residents fight county plan to double landfill capacity

South Orange County residents packed a town hall Thursday night to oppose a county plan to double the Prima Deshecha landfill's daily capacity from 4,000 to 8,000 tons — a proposal that would redirect more than 5,300 tons of trash currently processed at a closing Brea facility to their neighborhood.

The proposed consolidation would close the 565-acre Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea and route the bulk of its 6,600 daily tons south, raising concerns about an environmental review written 40 to 50 years ago, the facility's proximity to schools and the disposal of lithium battery waste, according to Voice of OC. Six state legislators have signed a letter opposing the expansion.

Residents gathered near San Juan Hills High School — one of four schools within a few miles of the Prima Deshecha site — to voice frustration over dust, noise and traffic they say already strain the Talega area and surrounding San Clemente communities, according to Voice of OC.

Ellen Vinck, former head of the Rancho San Juan Homeowners Association board, described the daily toll. "It's horrific, I'm tired of hearing my husband complain every time he cleans our pool," Vinck said. She also described the pre-dawn noise: "Prima opens for operations at seven in the morning. What do we start listening to at six in the morning? Beep. Beep. Beep. Imagine what will happen to this and the compounding of this if they're allowed to double the capacity."

Resident activist Cameron Cosgrove spelled out the arithmetic behind the county's proposal. "The current plan the county administrators have planned on…is that of the 6,600 (tons) in Brea, 5,300 tons is coming here. That's why the county wants to increase the operational intensity," Cosgrove said. Town hall organizer Tracy Sutherland was more blunt: "We don't want to double this tonnage cause it'll crush this city."

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who attended the meeting, disputed claims that she had voted to advance the expansion. "Let me correct the record — I did not vote on expanding the landfill. I exposed the expansion that's being proposed. I will continue to advocate against expanding the landfill," Foley said. Asked what the county would do with trash if Prima Deshecha is removed from consideration, Foley said: "We're not in a hurry. We should do it right." She added that current operations — including dust and odor complaints — would be addressed over the summer.

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, who is also a candidate for county supervisor, joined five other state legislators in a letter opposing the plan. "We stand with Orange County constituents in opposition to the proposed doubling of the capacity of the Prima Deschecha Landfill. The details of this plan are troubling. The location is not suitable for significant growth," the letter said, according to Voice of OC. Dixon told the crowd directly: "Wherever it's necessary for the state to intervene, we will be there for you."

San Clemente City Council member Victor Cabral raised the issue of the landfill's outdated environmental review. "When the original environmental impact report was prepared 40-50 years ago, there weren't such things as lithium batteries. If it's not a crisis right now, we know at some point in time it will be," Cabral said. Lisa Davis, president of the Capistrano Valley Unified School District school board, urged residents to stay engaged. "Now that we're all aware of it, we have to do our part to help make these changes," Davis said.

County officials have not announced a timeline for a final decision on the landfill consolidation proposal. Foley said current operational issues at Prima Deshecha, including dust and odor complaints from nearby residents, would be taken up over the summer.