Overview

The Issue

Since early 2022, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill has been experiencing a heat-releasing chemical reaction deep within an inactive portion of the landfill. This reaction is causing several issues for nearby residents, including noxious odors being released into the air and drifting offsite that have generated thousands of complaints. The reaction is also producing additional quantities of liquids in the waste – called leachate – that must be pumped out of the reaction area. Some of this leachate contains benzene, a chemical that, at certain concentrations and when not managed correctly, can harm public health and environment. To avoid such harm, the liquid with hazardous material goes directly into a closed treatment system. Local, state and federal agencies have been collaborating to address concerns about the operations and overall state of the landfill and have issued hundreds of notices of violation to the landfill operator. Conditions at the landfill have caused the reaction area to expand to approximately 30 to 35 acres in size in the northwestern portion of the landfill. This production of leachate impeded the ability of the gas collection and control system to operate effectively, and, along with the significant increase in the production of landfill gas from the reaction, has resulted in an increase in odors. Residents of the communities surrounding the landfill reported almost 6,800 odor complaints in 2023 and more than 9,400 odor complaints have been reported in 2024. Further, the reaction resulted in increased leachate production from approximately 150,000 gallons per week in January 2022 to approximately 950,000 gallons per week in May 2024.