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Environmental Programs

Conservation

Conservation of the Earth's natural resources is essential to protecting the environment for this and future generations. To encourage residents and businesses to do their part to conserve our natural resources, Mission Viejo has provided a variety of information, resources, and tips to help you conserve.

Pollution Prevention

Why should you be concerned about pollution?  Because everything found in our streets and gutters will also end up in your neighborhood parks, along walking trails, in our creeks and lake, and eventually in the ocean. Learn about the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program as well as what actions you can take to prevent pollution.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The City of Mission Viejo recognizes the importance of recycling, waste reduction, and reuse and has a wide variety of programs available for its residents.  Learn how you can reduce, reuse, recycle.

Trash and Recycling Services

Waste Management of Orange County provides trash and recycling services to the City's residents and businesses under an exclusive franchise agreement. The City recently underwent a competitive bidding process for solid waste services. Waste Management's total cost proposal continued to be the lowest. A new solid waste franchise agreement was awarded to Waste Management on June 23, 2020 that took effect on January 1, 2021. The new franchise agreement included a significant increase in rates for both residential and commercial customers to comply with newer State mandates. 

The majority of the increases are attributable to implementation of new organics collection and recycling requirements contained in recently-enacted State mandates. Costs of collecting and processing recyclable materials in accordance with State law continue to increase. Most of the increases are related to implementation and expansion of organics collection and recycling (green and food waste) required by State Senate Bill 1383 and Assembly Bill 1826 and costs related to processing traditionally recycled materials (plastic, glass, etc.) due to China's National Sword policy, which has banned the importation of certain types of solid waste as well as set strict contamination limits on recyclable materials.

A new rate sheet is posted under the "Trash and Recycling Services" link above.

You can learn more about recycling programs and the rate increases by viewing the recordings of recently held virtual online meetings: