S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y IN THE CITY
2 | North America Outlook Issue 20
CITY OF COSTA MESA ENERGY & UTILITIES
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In the heart of Orange County, California, environmental stewardship and climate action are at the core of Costa Mesa and the City Council. Energy and Sustainability Services Manager, Salem Afeworki, shares the plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste citywide Writer: Rachel Carr | Project Manager: Ben Weaver
ust a few miles from the coast of Southern California, in Orange County (OC), is the city of Costa Mesa. Originally home to Native American inhabitants, the plateau above Newport Beach was home to the suburban farming community of Harper until 1920, when it changed its name to Costa Mesa, Spanish for coastal tableland. Today, it is flourishing as a world-class city, featuring some of the best restaurants, retail centers, and cultural arts. Moreover, it is home to the South Coast Plaza, a renowned international shopping destination with more than 250 luxury and fashion boutiques, as well as 30 restaurants, located adjacent to Segestrom Center for the Arts. Costa Mesa is conveniently less than an hour’s drive from the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles (LA), and to ensure that it becomes the perfect antidote to LA’s heavy traffic and a great place for people to live, work, and play, the first Energy and Sustainability Services Manager for City of Costa Mesa, Salem Afeworki, is leading the environmentally-friendly initiatives and programs. “Transportation is an issue that needs addressing to reduce emissions and improve air quality, but getting people out of their cars is difficult. LA has been trying to increase different modes of transportation for decades now, whether it’s more buses, expanded bike lanes, or better, cleaner, and more efficient microtransit options,” opens Afeworki. One way to reduce emissions is with electric vehicles (EVs), and City of Costa Mesa has been proactively investing in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and infrastructure for the last five years. It currently has 10 EVs, 10 hybrids, and an e-shuttle bus in its fleet, which serves the City of Costa Mesa Senior Center and was made possible through a grant from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. “My team is also exploring ZEV options for the Costa Mesa Police Department – which is very exciting!” adds Afeworki. Transport electrification is not the only subject on Afeworki’s agenda; the development and implementation of citywide programs, policies, and initiatives to reduce Costa Mesa’s carbon footprint, increase resource efficiency, minimize waste generation, and enhance the natural and built environment all fall under her jurisdiction. North America Outlook Issue 20 | 3
CITY OF COSTA MESA ENERGY & UTILITIES
“I work with various City of Costa Mesa departments, communitybased organizations, regional and state agencies, and the business community to build a stronger, more sustainable, and equitable city together,” Afeworki explains. This is alongside overseeing sustainability policies, projects, and initiatives with diverse focus areas including but not limited to energy, mobility, waste, green spaces, ecosystems, the economy, internal capacity building, and green jobs. Indeed, Afeworki is the first sustainability leader in the City of Costa Mesa’s history to lead citywide efforts in advancing sustainability, clean energy, climate action, and resilience.
SUSTAINABLE SPACES AND PLACES In California, the biggest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions comes from the transportation sector. As such, Afeworki is personally interested in emerging technologies and R&D investments in better EV batteries, energy storage, vehicleto-grid (V2G), and hydrogen fueling stations. “In 2021, we installed four Level II EV charging stations and one Level III EV charging station at the City Hall. The availability of these highlights City of Costa Mesa’s commitment to environmentally-friendly programs, initiatives, and technologies that build resilient communities and infrastructure. “All Costa Mesa residents, City
COMMUNITY OBLIGATIONS ON THE CITY OF COSTA MESA RADAR
of Costa Mesa employees, and commuters from neighboring cities will be able to benefit from this publicly available EV infrastructure, which is convenient and accessible 24/7. This project won the American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County’s Energy Project of the Year!” Afeworki proudly states. The city’s approach to transforming transportation services into ecofriendly options is multi-faceted, as sustainable public transport needs to be affordable. Therefore, City of Costa Mesa is increasing the ease of use for active modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and rolling. It also ensures safe and comfortable access to the 10 bus routes that serve the city while exploring alternative
by implementing programs for single-family and multifamily properties up to four units. • City of Costa Mesa has also made significant strides in
EVENTS
procurement, actively purchasing compost and mulch
• City of Costa Mesa has actively participated in community
incorporates this compost and mulch into its operations,
events to raise awareness and educate the public about Senate Bill (SB) 1383, including the annual Earth Day Festival, where compost and recycling bins are given away. • An educational booth at Eco Expo hosted by the Costa Mesa Sanitary District. • Dump Day is a collaborative effort between City of Costa Mesa, the California Department of Transportation, Goodwill of Orange County, and the office of Cottie PetrieNorris to collect abandoned items and provide paper shredding services.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS • Thanks to its strategic outreach and partnership with community members, City of Costa Mesa has achieved several notable accomplishments in its organic recycling efforts. Working collaboratively with seven haulers, it
from OC Waste & Recycling. Its landscape contractor further reducing organic waste in landfills. • Furthermore, City of Costa Mesa has partnered with Abound Food Care on food recovery programs that help businesses comply with SB 1383. A detailed list of food donation organizations is available online, offering residents and businesses an opportunity to reduce food waste and combat food insecurity.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS • In 2022, City of Costa Mesa achieved a remarkable 482 percent increase in organic waste recycling, diverting 3,335 tons of organic waste from landfills. This represents an increase of 1,635 tons and is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the community to embrace sustainable practices. • Residents and businesses are critical in crafting a
has successfully rolled out a comprehensive organic
sustainable future and combating the urgent climate
recycling program, ensuring that multi-family residents and
crisis. City of Costa Mesa appreciates the community’s
businesses can easily comply with SB 1383 requirements.
partnership in organic recycling efforts and looks forward
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District also played a pivotal role
to furthering its impact in the coming years.
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Chevrolet Bolt EV, part of City of Costa Mesa’s green fleet
“ I A M H O P E F U L T H AT T O G E T H E R , W E W I L L F I N D A WAY T O M E E T O U R L O C A L A N D G L O B A L C L I M AT E A N D S U S TA I N A B L E D E V E LO P M E N T G OA L S ” – S A L E M A F E W O R K I , E N E R G Y A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y S E R V I C E S M A N A G E R , C I T Y O F C O S TA M E S A
wildlife observation, environmental education, and seven miles of trails for walking and cycling. The abundance of green space is shared by over 110,000 Costa Mesa residents over 16 square miles (sqm) of the city.
CHANGE FROM A BILL mobility options such as microtransits, and has deployed two solar-powered EV charging stations – one at the senior center and another in the city’s maintenance yard. “I recently testified before the California Senate on ZEV infrastructure challenges and opportunities as there is a lot of work to do locally to meet the state’s carbon neutral goal, but I am excited to be working on addressing local issues and thriving daily to remove barriers toward a decarbonized and sustainable world,” voices Afeworki. Clean mobility options are not the only eco-friendly element of Costa Mesa; there are a plethora of green
spaces for relaxation if residents and visitors to the city want a break from commuting. Costa Mesa has over 30 parks, the largest of which is Fairview, hosting 195 acres of open space, two Nationally Registered Cultural Resource Historic Sites, and five distinct habitat ecosystems that are home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species. The park also acts as a regional gateway to the Santa Ana River Trail, the Orange Coast River Park, and the adjacent Orange County Talbert Regional Park, offering users multiple passive recreational opportunities such as picnicking, kite flying,
Waste management is a huge focus for City of Costa Mesa. As a result of the SB 1383, municipalities have collectively turned their sights to organics recycling to address the climate crisis. It sets ambitious goals for California, including a target to reduce 75 percent of organic waste in landfills by 2025 and save at least 20 percent of uneaten food for redistribution to those in need. Organic materials such as food scraps and yard trimmings account for 50 percent of landfill waste and are responsible for producing 20 percent of California’s methane gas – a GHG that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. North America Outlook Issue 20 | 5
A COMPANY PROMOTING PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROSPERITY Ware Disposal Inc., a Santa Ana, Californiabased integrated solid waste management provider, has a 55 year history of promoting people, the planet, and profits through its provision of service across Southern California.
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are Disposal Inc. commenced operations in the City of Los Angeles in 1968, as the brainchild of Ben and Judith Ware. Three years later, they relocated the company to Santa Ana in Orange County to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities afforded during the County’s significant growth period. In the mid-1990s, their son Jay joined the company as General Manager, to lead Ware Disposal Inc. into the 21st century. During his tenure that growth has increased 15-fold and has earned the company a place on Waste Age’s Top 50 solid waste management firms in North America. Today, as a result of promoting people, the planet, and profits, Ware Disposal Inc. serves over 20,000 residential and 5,000 commercial customers every week. The consistent pattern of growth has led the company to expand its operations
from a construction trailer and small lot to a corporate headquarters in Santa Ana and three satellite operations yards in Fullerton, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In an effort to protect the planet, Ware Disposal Inc. installed a compressed natural gas station at its Fullerton satellite facility in 2011 through a partnership with Clean Energy Fuels. As for its people, Ware Disposal Inc. has been represented for 22 years by Teamster Local Union 396, a relationship the company appreciates. The company also remains proud to offer its driving and mechanic personnel a wage and benefit package commensurate with its location in Southern California. We remain quite proud that we did not implement any layoffs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby we maintained employment for all of our employees during that most difficult of times. Because of our commitment to our people, we did not lose any staff during that period.
Additionally, as part of protecting the planet and promoting profits between it and its customer base, the Ware family realized a long-held dream by securing City Council approval of its large volume transfer station, Madison Materials, in September 2000. This facility remains one of the most urban transfer stations in California, as it is seven blocks from downtown Santa Ana. The facility officially opened for business in August 2002 and secured a Cal-Recycle permit in 2004. The facility’s primary focus upon opening was to provide a venue for other solid waste firms and self-haulers and a place to dispose of construction and demolition waste in central Orange County, as the area had not yet concluded its growth period. However, the facility’s permit also allowed Madison to handle other parts of the waste stream, including dry waste, recyclables, green waste, and electronic and universal waste. This provided Ware Disposal Inc. the ability
www.ware to promote itself under the planet moniker, that the company could offer a full array of services to its existing and future client base and handle nearly all portions of the waste stream internally, thus presenting its customer base the ability to “profit” off the closing of the loop. Ware Disposal Inc. operates in a number of Southern California jurisdictions, including the following for commercial, multi-family, and industrial services:
• City of Montebello • City of Monterey Park • City of Pasadena • City of Santa Fe Springs • City of Santa Monica • City of Torrance • City of Vernon • City of Thousand Oaks • Thirty school and community college districts, including one of three providers for the Los Angeles Unified School District
• City of San Diego, where it is one of only six commercial, approved providers • County of San Diego • City of Costa Mesa • City of Irvine • City of Newport Beach • Temporary/construction and demolition services to the Cities of Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, and Rancho Santa Margarita • City of El Segundo
While Ware Disposal Inc. treasures our relationship with the aforementioned jurisdictions, we have a heightened and special relationship with the City and County of Los Angeles. As it relates to the City of Los Angeles, Ware Disposal Inc., through the dedicated work of its staff (people), was able to secure one of the seven franchises as part of the City’s pioneering recycLA program. Ware
Disposal Inc. was awarded the Southeast zone, a zone of 2,000 customers south of downtown Los Angeles. In 2017, it represented the most explosive growth period in the company’s long history. As a result of its people-oriented approach, Ware Disposal Inc. experienced few issues during
service to approximately five hundred textile customers in the Southeast zone. We have engaged with the city and various NGOs in the city and across the state to identify potential solutions to recycle textile waste. It remains the company’s position that there is a much better use of over 24,000 tons per annum of textile waste and it will explore any and all options to prevent this part of the waste stream from being landfilled. The company desires to be a large actor in developing a solution to textile waste, as it handles among the most textile waste of any solid waste provider nationwide. As it relates to the County of Los Angeles, the company has realized substantial franchises with that agency over the last fifteen years, including the following:
runs out of both materials within two hours! Additionally, when the County of Los Angeles decided to exclusively franchise commercial collection, Ware Disposal Inc. was awarded the San Gabriel Valley West franchise, which encompasses an area from Monrovia/Arcadia to Pasadena. Ware Disposal Inc., through that action, became one of only four exclusive commercial franchisees in the County of Los Angeles. As always, through Jay Ware’s inspired leadership, the company looks to the next innovation, the newest technology the industry has to offer. The next innovation is the electric vehicle (EV). Ware Disposal Inc. intends to take delivery of its first EV in 2024. The newest technology would be the OREX extrusion machine at Madison Materials. This technology will allow Ware Disposal Inc. to reduce the amount of collected waste going to landfill disposal. It will allow the company to get into SB 1383 compliance and further reduce planet-warming gases from the atmosphere. Implementing both technologies would position Ware Disposal Inc. well for the remainder of the current decade and going into the next decade.
• East Charter Oak community, to provide exclusive residential collection services; • South Whittier community, to provide exclusive residential collection services; • Lennox Garbage Disposal District, to provide exclusive residential and commercial collection services.
edisposal.com the service transition period in 2017 because it already possessed the ability of working with individual customers to transition service to us on a daily basis and to anticipate what their service needs would require. As part of the recycLA program, the company sincerely appreciates working with various food rescue non-governmental organizations to recover edible food to provide to the food insecure population within metropolitan Los Angeles. We have partnered with Food Forward and St Francis Center (people) to prevent edible food from being landfilled (planet) and providing savings across the board (profits) to various actors as part of the City of Los Angeles. Ware Disposal Inc. rescues upwards of one hundred tons of edible food per month since 2018, which also saves on the production of global warming greenhouse gases. In addition, Ware Disposal Inc. provides
Ware Disposal Inc. has provided service to the East Charter Oak community for fifteen years and represents the company’s third overall residential franchise in the company’s history. As to the other two communities, Ware Disposal Inc. has entered a sixth year of service to both. One of the new programs we have implemented in all three communities is a twice-per-annum compost and mulch giveaway event in the Spring and Autumn seasons. The company understands its responsibility to return both products to residents as a way to close the loop between collected green waste and resultant products that can benefit them. These events are wildly popular with the residents in all three communities, so much so that the company
But, back to the people, planet, and profits. Ware Disposal Inc. would not be as successful as it is today without cherishing its relationships with its clients (people) and working collaboratively with them to design waste reduction practices (planet) to achieve the State of California’s ambitious climate action goals. When both work in concert, it produces a wide array of profits not only for both parties, but for the larger society. Ware Disposal Inc. survived the industry consolidation of the 1990s, early 2000s, and has emerged as a much stronger force in the industry in Southern California. The company steadfastly embraces all of the challenges presented as a result of the implementation of SB 1383, as well as the recently enacted electric vehicle fleet rules from the California Air Resources Board. People, planet, and profits…there’s no better corporate approach to achieving larger societal goals for all.
CITY OF COSTA MESA ENERGY & UTILITIES
“Recognizing that cities, businesses, and residents all have a role to play in reducing organic waste in landfills, SB 1383 holds both an opportunity and a challenge for everyone. City of Costa Mesa has taken proactive steps to partner with its community and build a greener future,” Afeworki observes. City of Costa Mesa’s approach to SB 1383 is for its sustainability team to work at helping community members understand and develop new habits required to sort organic materials properly. “Through a series of targeted outreach and engagement efforts, we aim to educate the community about the importance of diverting organic waste from landfills and the steps they can take to impact the environment positively,” she informs us. To engage residents and businesses alike, outreach efforts include various elements designed to impart information. For example, City of Costa Mesa has a dedicated webpage that offers guidelines on organic waste recycling, whilst social media platforms are utilized to regularly update people
ASCE Award
on the latest developments and initiatives. “To help businesses comply with SB 1383 mandates, City of Costa Mesa designed a bilingual postcard and a link that provides a succinct overview of the requirements. A general flyer was also created for wider distribution to ensure that all community members are aware of how they can contribute to a greener future. “Recognizing the power of social media, we produced an animated video highlighting the importance of organic waste recycling and providing step-by-step instructions. The engaging format helps viewers grasp key concepts easily and motivates them to take action,” highlights Afeworki.
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS, RECOGNITIONS, AND AWARDS City of Costa Mesa is committed to environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, and economic prosperity. • In 2021, the City Council added “Advancing Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resiliency” as its priority goal. • In the same year, Costa Mesa was awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, joining a growing group of
2021 Environment and Energy Leader 100 Award
more than 100 cities and municipalities worldwide to be certified under the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities and Communities rating system. It is the only city in Orange County with the certification, and at the time, it was one of the only four cities in the US to have received the certification using the latest LEED standard, LEED version 4.1. • Costa Mesa has three LEED buildings including a library, community center, and a fire station. • The city mainly uses drought-resistant and California-native vegetation and has an Organics First Policy/Integrated Pest Management Plan. • The green business program is designed to help companies operate sustainably and receive public recognition for their efforts. • Costa Mesa also earned a Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. The program provides direction, assistance, and national recognition to participating cities while increasing awareness about the value of trees and the importance of sustainable tree management. It also provided the framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry program in cities.
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2023 Climate Leaderhip Conference in LA with high school students
City Tree Canopy Map developed in collaboration with Google Environmental Insights Explorer team
GREEN GOALS City of Costa Mesa has a few key priorities for the coming year, but the biggest is its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), a multi-year and inclusive process that will include extensive stakeholder engagement and input. “We hope to have it finalized and approved by early 2025. To supplement the city’s approved CAAP budget, we were awarded a $50,000 climate adaptation and climate resilience planning grant from SoCalGas to conduct a climate vulnerability assessment in our low-income communities,” Afeworki elaborates. The climate plan will put equity at the center of the planning process, identifying GHG reduction and adaptation measures that enhance public health and community resilience and promote the creation of local green jobs. Furthermore, City of Costa Mesa has goals regarding fleet electrification and citywide
2022 Earth Day Festival
“ T H E R E I S A LOT O F WO R K TO D O, B U T I A M E XC I T E D TO B E WO R K I N G ON ADDRESSING LOCAL ISSUES AND T H R I V I N G D A I LY T O R E M O V E B A R R I E R S T O WA R D A D E C A R B O N I Z E D A N D S U S TA I N A B L E W O R L D ” – S A L E M A F E W O R K I , E N E R G Y A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y S E R V I C E S M A N A G E R , C I T Y O F C O S TA M E S A
expansion of the ZEV infrastructure, focusing on expanding EV charging stations at multi-family residential units and in low-income communities. “With the aim of further expanding tree coverage throughout the City, we developed a tree canopy map in collaboration with the Google Environmental Insights Explorer team. We are now using the web map to develop targeted tree planting efforts in our vulnerable communities,” says Afeworki. Its tree canopy expansion plans
and the use of different Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address climate change will improve air quality while enhancing the community’s health and reducing urban heat. “As a state, we aim to be carbon neutral by 2045 by decarbonizing every sector. We know what needs to be done and by what date; the current challenge is how to get there. To address this, we are working on developing GHG reduction pathways that are a good fit and reflect the priorities of our community. North America Outlook Issue 20 | 11
CITY OF COSTA MESA ENERGY & UTILITIES
CITY OF COSTA MESA’S PLANS, PROJECTS, AND INITIATIVES CAAP – A comprehensive strategy to address the climate crisis in Costa Mesa in an innovative, equity-focused, realistic, and actionable way. The City Council adopted a resolution to approve City of Costa Mesa’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in April 2023. Climate change considerations were discussed in detail under each hazard profile and were included in the recommended mitigation measures. City staff will incorporate LHMP in the general plan’s safety element update and CAAP. CITY TREE CANOPY – The first fully mapped tree coverage, including public and private trees, in partnership with Google Environmental Insights Explorer. The plan is to use the map to expand the trees in the city , focusing on lowincome and vulnerable communities. ONGOING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT – City of Costa Mesa started the Earth Day festival in 2021, which attracts hundreds of people every April in addition to annual events. It regularly hosts community workshops and attends events on different topics, ranging from stormwater management to induction cooking and sustainable landscape management. This creates the ideal opportunity for Afeworki to talk to community members, partners, and city staff to understand their needs and priorities regarding sustainability, which she can then convert into projects or initiatives that the city can implement.
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“It is one of the biggest challenges of the century, but alongside challenges come opportunities, and I believe in human ingenuity and resourcefulness. I am hopeful that together, we will find a way to meet our local and global climate and sustainable development goals,” she tells us. With Afeworki at the helm of City of Costa Mesa’s sustainability efforts, it is in excellent shape to action change and reach its climate goals. Her green credentials include working for the United Nations (UN) before completing a master’s
OC Sustainability Decathlon Sustainability Resilience jury
Girls planting trees at Costa Mesa City Hall, Earth Day Festival 2022
E-shuttle bus and solar powered EV charging stations
The engineering team at Level III EV charging station, Costa Mesa City Hall
degree in environmental management and renewable energy applications. “I have always been interested in nature and understanding how things work, and as an extrovert, I find teamwork in multidisplinary settings highly energizing. I regulary volunteer and do pro-bono work to give back to my community. For example, we recently published the second edition of the State of Sustainability Report that covers Orange County and LA
SoCalGas Climate Adaptation Grant
in collaboration with the American Society of Civil Engineers Los Angeles Section. The report identifies the current trends and challenges in sustainability and provides insight to support local policy development, collaboration opportunities and implementation of sustainability initiatives across the region,” Afeworki concludes. Afeworki’s diverse professional and life experience across four continents
and her capacity to build and retain lasting relationships easily, makes her who she is today – a more inclusive leader and global citizen who tries to bridge the gap and bring people together to build a sustainable world for all.
CITY OF COSTA MESA Tel: +1 (714) 754-5000 sustainability@costamesaca.gov www.costamesaca.gov North America Outlook Issue 20 | 13
CITY OF COSTA MESA Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 Tel: +1 (714) 754-5000 sustainability@costamesaca.gov www.costamesaca.gov
PRODUCED BY NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE