Orange County Landfill Cited for Foul Odors Affecting Irvine Residents

Regulators issue multiple violation notices to the Frank Bowerman Landfill over persistent garbage-like smells

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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An Orange County landfill has been cited for foul odors after Irvine neighbors complained about the stinky smell permeating their community. Regulators from the South Coast Air Quality Management District have issued three violation notices to the Frank Bowerman Landfill, which is owned and operated by Orange County, in response to the complaints about sour garbage-type odors.

Why it matters

The landfill has been operating for over 30 years, but as residential development has expanded around it, the odor issues have become more problematic for nearby Irvine residents. This highlights the challenges of managing the environmental impact of long-standing waste facilities as urban areas grow and encroach on their boundaries.

The details

Irvine resident Monica Fontao said the odor from the nearby landfill comes early in the morning and at night, especially during Santa Ana wind conditions. She described the smell as "almost like you open up your trash and smell comes out" and said it "is permeating all throughout" the surrounding neighborhoods. The landfill director, Tom Koutroulis, acknowledged the odor issues and said the county is working to mitigate the problem, including using drones to monitor emissions and implementing new misting systems and commercial fans with odor neutralizers.

  • The Frank Bowerman Landfill has been operating since 1990.
  • The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued three violation notices to the landfill in 2026.

The players

Frank Bowerman Landfill

An Orange County landfill that has been cited for foul odors affecting nearby Irvine residents.

Orange County

The owner and operator of the Frank Bowerman Landfill.

South Coast Air Quality Management District

The regulatory agency that issued violation notices to the landfill over the odor complaints.

Monica Fontao

An Irvine resident who lives near the landfill and has complained about the persistent foul odors.

Tom Koutroulis

The director of the Frank Bowerman Landfill, who acknowledged the odor issues and said the county is working to mitigate the problem.

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What they’re saying

“We cannot open the windows. We can't open the sliding door because the smell is so, so bad.”

— Monica Fontao, Irvine Resident (cbsnews.com)

“It's almost like you open up your trash and smell comes out. It's permeating all throughout. You can't escape it. You go to Woodbury Town Center, you're smelling it. It's everywhere.”

— Monica Fontao, Irvine Resident (cbsnews.com)

“This landfill was built and established back in 1990, and back then we didn't have residents, but now we do. We're doing everything we possibly can to mitigate any impact associated with our ongoing operations.”

— Tom Koutroulis, Landfill Director (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The landfill operators are waiting for permits from the South Coast Air Quality Management District for a new system to control the odors and gases emitted from the facility.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of managing the environmental impact of long-standing waste facilities as urban development encroaches on their boundaries. It underscores the need for proactive mitigation strategies and close coordination between landfill operators and local regulators to address persistent odor issues that can significantly impact nearby residents' quality of life.