Countywide : Landfill to Extend Credit on Debris

In an effort to help cities battered by the recent storms, a county landfill will accept storm debris from the cities and not send bills until the municipalities can afford to pay.

The cities can dump the trash at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill on the northern end of Sand Canyon Avenue east of Irvine. The collections will take place for 30 days beginning Feb. 2.

County officials said cities hardest hit such as San Clemente and Laguna Beach have more debris than normal because of mudslides that brought down tons of rubble and muddy debris.

During the next month, the Orange County Integrated Waste Management Department will keep track of all the garbage taken to the landfill and provide cities with the information so they can apply for state or federal funds to pay the bill.

“Their bills will be deferred until they’re reimbursed,” said Cymantha Atkinson, a staff analyst of the waste management department.

“In the wake of these devastating storms, local governments must do everything possible to support each other,” County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez said. “Deferring county landfill payments for our public entities should give them time to secure emergency funding.”