Chiquita Canyon Landfill Ceases Operations Amid Rising Community Outrage
By Santa Clarita Star Staff
Chiquita Canyon Landfill announced that it will cease accepting waste as of January 1, 2025, amid growing political pressure and community outrage over its harmful environmental and health impacts. Local politicians, including Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, have introduced legislation to provide financial relief and relocation assistance to affected residents, emphasizing the need for continued oversight and accountability.
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — As of January 1, 2025, Chiquita Canyon Landfill will cease accepting waste, according to a statement released by Chiquita Canyon, LLC on December 31, 2024. The landfill, located in the Santa Clarita Valley, has been at the center of environmental concerns in recent months, particularly regarding elevated temperatures in its northwest corner, a result of a significant internal reaction within the landfill. While the closure marks the end of active waste disposal operations, Chiquita Canyon, LLC will continue to manage the site through the critical closure and post-closure phases.
The closure of the landfill comes at a time when local residents and environmental advocates have raised concerns about the environmental and public health risks posed by ongoing issues at the site, including the buildup of leachate and possible contamination of nearby water supplies. Despite the cessation of waste disposal, the company assures the public that it remains dedicated to addressing the ongoing reactions and mitigating any potential hazards.
“We remain committed to working with federal, state, and local regulators on the ongoing reaction mitigation efforts,” the statement reads, emphasizing that the management of the landfill and efforts to manage the situation will continue. This includes addressing the elevated temperature issue that has drawn attention from various regulatory agencies, such as the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The closure comes as a result of mounting political pressure and outrage from surrounding communities. As residents in the surrounding areas of Chiquita Canyon Landfill continue to report severe health issues linked to air and water pollution, political pressure is mounting for the landfill’s immediate closure. With ongoing reports of toxic fumes, cancer clusters, and environmental degradation, local, state, and federal officials are feeling the heat from a community demanding urgent action.
California's Bipartisan Leaders Demand Stronger Response to Chiquita Canyon Landfill Crisis
On October 15, 2024, a rare bipartisan press conference brought together local politicians, including Republican Congressman Mike Garcia and Democratic Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, to address the escalating crisis. Their unified stance underscored the broad political consensus on the need for stronger action to protect affected communities like Val Verde, Castaic, and Santa Clarita. These areas have long endured the negative impacts of the landfill’s operations, including exposure to harmful chemicals such as benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and methane, which have contributed to a range of health problems.
“We are here today to make one thing abundantly clear,” Schiavo said during the press conference. “The people of Val Verde, Castaic, and Santa Clarita need help, and the state and federal government must do more.” Schiavo, who has spent significant time with affected families, has been a vocal advocate for declaring a state of emergency in the area to unlock additional resources. She recently spent a night with a family near the landfill and experienced firsthand the toxic air that residents are exposed to daily. “In just one night, I had a headache, burning eyes, a scratchy throat, and even a nosebleed,” Schiavo recounted, stressing that these symptoms are felt by residents regularly.
Tami Stephens, a field representative for Congressman Mike Garcia, shared the congressman’s long-standing commitment to the residents, noting that he was one of the first elected officials to call for the landfill’s closure and for the declaration of a state of emergency. Garcia has worked alongside Schiavo to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to act decisively, even introducing the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act to provide tax exemptions for residents affected by the crisis.
Boiling Point: Community Anger Grows Over Lack of Action on Chiquita Canyon Landfill
The frustration among residents reached a boiling point. At a meeting on October 28, 2024, at Castaic Middle School, residents voiced their anger at the lack of action. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who was present at the meeting, was met with boos after assuring the crowd that the landfill would close in one to two months. However, a lawsuit filed by landfill operators seeking an extension of the deadline to reduce waste intake casts doubt on this timeline, leaving residents questioning whether the closure will happen as promised.
“I’ve lived here for 23 years, and I’m seeing my life unravel,” said Suzan Evans, a Val Verde resident who is confined to a wheelchair due to health problems exacerbated by the landfill’s pollution. Evans, who has long been an outspoken critic of the landfill’s expansion, pointed out the disparity in response to other environmental disasters, such as the Aliso Canyon methane leak, which prompted swift action. She called out Barger for failing to honor promises made to the community, including providing new windows, doors, and air conditioning for affected residents.
At the October meeting, local residents like Elizabeth Jeffords shared their devastating experiences, highlighting the disconnect between the local government’s promises and the lived reality of those closest to the landfill. “I can’t even sell my house, and the value has plummeted. How long are we supposed to live like this?” Jeffords asked.
In response, outgoing Congressman Garcia, reiterated his call for a state of emergency to facilitate the allocation of federal aid and ensure that the needs of the community are prioritized. Incoming Congressman George Whitesides has committed to continuing to advocate for residents affected by the landfill. Assemblywoman Schiavo also expressed frustration at the lack of meaningful cooperation from Waste Connections, the Texas-based company that owns the landfill, which has dismissed concerns raised by local officials.
Schiavo Pushes for Immediate Aid for Communities Affected by Chiquita Canyon Landfill
On the opening day of the new legislative session in December, 2024, Schiavo introduced two key bills aimed at helping residents impacted by the ongoing health crisis at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, located within her district. The first bill would exempt compensation received from the landfill from state taxes and ensure it does not affect eligibility for state assistance programs like CalFresh. The second bill seeks state funding to support residents’ short- or long-term relocation expenses due to the severe health and environmental impacts they have suffered. “These bills are a step toward justice, relief, and ensuring no one has to choose between their health and their home,” Schiavo stated in a press release.
As the landfill transitions into closure and post-closure activities, questions about the long-term environmental impact and future monitoring efforts remain. The closure will not immediately resolve the concerns raised by local communities, who have been vocal about the need for stronger oversight and accountability from both the landfill operators and local regulators.
Residents and environmental groups have previously expressed concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the landfill’s environmental risks, with calls for increased testing and monitoring of local water sources to ensure that contamination does not spread into the Santa Clara River or the local groundwater supply. The closure of waste acceptance operations may provide temporary relief, but many are left wondering about the long-term solutions to the ongoing environmental risks associated with the landfill's operation.
For now, the focus shifts to the continued monitoring and mitigation of the situation as the landfill management works with regulators to address the issues at hand. While the cessation of waste disposal operations is a significant step, the future of Chiquita Canyon Landfill, and the surrounding environment, remains uncertain.
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