Chiquita Canyon and Sunshine Canyon
Presentations:
About Chiquita Canyon Landfill
Located in Castaic, CA, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill spans 639 acres and has been in operation since 1972. It is the second-largest landfill in LA County, handling between 7,000 to 8,000 tons of waste daily. In April 2023, leachate began surfacing, raising environmental concerns.
About Sunshine Canyon Landfill
The Sunshine Canyon Landfill, located in Sylmar, CA, covers 1,036 acres and has been operational since 1958. As the largest landfill in LA County, it manages around 9,000 tons of waste daily, accounting for approximately one-third of the county’s total daily waste.
Environmental Impact of Chiquita Canyon and Sunshine Canyon Landfills
Both landfills have been identified as sources of polluted water, known as leachate, which contains harmful chemicals such as benzene, methane, and dimethyl sulfide. Residents in nearby communities are experiencing severe and persistent odors, leading to health issues like coughing, burning eyes, dry throats, nosebleeds, asthma, nausea, and headaches.
Accountability
- Chiquita Canyon Landfill: Owned and operated by Waste Connections.
- Sunshine Canyon Landfill: Owned and operated by Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI).
Over 6,000 odor complaints have been filed with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), resulting in more than 100 citations and violations.
Affected Areas
The following cities are impacted by the landfills:
- Val Verde
- Live Oak
- Hasley Hills
- Castaic
- Granada Hills
- Sylmar
- Newhall
- Porter Ranch
- Santa Clarita
- Valencia
- Saugus
- Stevenson Ranch
Potentially Affected Cities
- Canyon Country
- Castaic
- Chatsworth
- Granada Hills
- Hasley Hills
- Mission Hills
- Newhall
- North Hills
- North Hollywood
- Northridge
- Pacoima
- Panorama City
- Piru
- Porter Ranch
- San Fernando
- Santa Clarita
- Saugus
- Stevenson Ranch
- Sylmar
- Valencia
- Van Nuys
- Val Verde
Potentially Affected Zip Codes
91310 • 91311 • 91321 • 91322 • 91324 • 91325 • 91326 • 91327 • 91328 • 91330 • 91331 • 91333 • 91340 • 91341 • 91343 • 91344 • 91345 • 91346 • 91350 • 91351 • 91354 • 91355 • 91380 • 91381 • 91382 • 91383 • 91384 • 91386 • 91390 • 91392 • 91394 • 91396 • 91402 • 91405 • 91406 • 91412 • 91605 • 93040
Next Steps
The South Coast AQMD, in collaboration with city and county agencies, including LA County Public Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CalRecycle, and more, is actively seeking solutions. However, it is estimated that the mitigation and cessation of odors may take 2-4 years.