OC residents push back against plan to double Prima Deshecha landfill output

Orange County's proposal to double the Prima Deshecha landfill's daily intake — from 4,000 to 8,000 tons of trash — has drawn sharp opposition from residents, school officials and multiple government agencies who say the expansion poses serious health and environmental risks to South OC communities.

The expansion is driven by the county's plans to shut down the Olinda Alpha landfill in Brea, but county environmental review has already classified the project's impacts as "significant and unavoidable" — a designation opponents say should disqualify the plan before a town hall set for Thursday.

The Prima Deshecha landfill straddles the border of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. With the Olinda Alpha landfill in Brea slated for closure, county officials are looking to redirect the resulting trash volume to Prima Deshecha, according to Voice of OC. Residents say the facility already strains the surrounding communities.

"Landfill operations have contributed to a noticeable increase in dust accumulation, as well as infestations of flies, pests, and scavenging birds such as crows in surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, the increase in daily tonnage will lead to more truck traffic, worsening diesel emissions, noise pollution, and safety risks," said Omar Alzubaidi, a San Juan Capistrano resident, in letters submitted to county staff. He urged officials to go further than adding safeguards: "I strongly urge you not only to reject the increase in daily tonnage capacity, but also to implement stricter oversight, enforcement, and community protections."

Schools near the landfill are a focal point of the debate. San Juan Hills High School, which enrolls about 2,800 students, sits roughly half a mile away and downwind of the facility, Voice of OC reported. Tania Alward, principal of San Clemente Christian School, framed her objection in personal as well as professional terms. "While I write today as a school leader, I also write as a parent. The thought of knowingly increasing air pollution in the very community where my own children live, learn, and play is very concerning to me. The designation of 'significant and unavoidable' impacts should cause us all to stop in our tracks and delve into other options for the removal of waste in our area," Alward said, according to Voice of OC.

City and school district officials have entered the debate with formal letters of opposition. San Juan Capistrano City Manager Benjamin Siegel asked county officials to keep working with residents on air quality, noise and odor problems, noting that "city residents are impacted by odors" from composting operations already underway at the site. Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Christopher Brown added that the district "respectfully requests that the County further evaluate these impacts and consider appropriate additional mitigation measures to protect the health, safety and learning environment of the school's students, parents and staff," according to Voice of OC.

Regulatory agencies have also raised flags. The South Coast Air Quality Management District submitted concerns about the proposal, and the California Department of Transportation recommended additional study of both transportation and air quality impacts, Voice of OC reported.

A town hall meeting where residents can question county leaders directly is scheduled for Thursday at the Talega Swim and Athletic Club, 100 Calle Altea, in San Clemente.