Chino marks America Recycles Day; Waste Management highlights RNG projects and 2025 recycling awards

The City of Chino marked America Recycles Day and presented local recycling awards during the Nov. 4 council meeting, while Waste Management and city staff described ongoing programs and regional investments.

Hae Jin Lee, director of public works, and Xochitl Huerta, management aide, joined Waste Management representatives and Lillian Canales (the city's recycling coordinator) for brief remarks about the city's recycling outreach, compost and mulch giveaways, and the household hazardous waste program.

A Waste Management speaker told the council the company invested "multimillion dollars in enhancing our recycling facilities," cited conversion of the Simi Valley landfill to a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility and said a similar project is planned at El Sobrante Landfill next year. The representative also said the company had "proud to have recycled 600,000, tons of malt compost from our organic facilities" and described ongoing education and outreach at community events.

Lillian Canales noted her work with local businesses and called out the 2025 commercial recycling champion, Homecoming at the Preserve, a multi‑family apartment community of "1,437 units" that partners with the city on organics collection. Canales said she had completed more than "182 site visits to businesses" to help improve recycling operations.

The council acknowledged the partnership with Waste Management and presented certificates to residential and commercial recycling "all stars." The city also announced its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Chino Community Building and reminded residents about seasonal recycling events and the city recycling web resources (cityofchino.org/recycling).

These were ceremonial recognitions and announcements; no council policy action or vote was taken on recycling programs at the Nov. 4 meeting.