Dive Brief:
- California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Director Scott Smithline upheld a review by Orange County regulators of the operating permit issued to Rainbow Environmental Services’ trash facility in Huntington Beach, CA, according to a county press release. He vacated orders issued by an administrative hearing officer who faulted the county’s permit review process for the facility.
- The Ocean View School District had expressed concerns in a comment letter about the trash operation's impact on nearby Oak View Elementary School. Smithline wrote that the county did consider the district’s concerns about the Rainbow facility and complied with all obligations in reviewing operations at the facility for the preceding five years.
- Supervisor Michelle Steel assured that she will monitor complaints of various issues — including dust, noise and odor — from the Rainbow facility.
Dive Insight:
This is not the first time this issue is being brought to light. The Ocean View School District has had complaints about the Rainbow facility for years. However, CalRecycle is satisfied that the permit review process was proper.
"We will continue to work with the school district and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to address concerns," Steel said. "We share the same desire to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for the students at Oak View."
Going forward, Health Care Agency staff will continue weekly inspections to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures, including dust screens, odor misters and a falcon handler to ward away birds from the trash site.