FACT SHEET
The
Chiquita Canyon Disposal
Facility is a 592-acre landfill located in Los
Angeles County, California. Currently, 257 acres
are permitted for the actual disposal of waste.
The remainder of the site is for sedimentation
ponds, buffer area and future expansions. The
site is owned and operated by Republic Services
of California I, LLC. Since the facility was
acquired by Republic Services in 1999, it has
been upgraded with a new landfill gas management
system, upgraded the leachate management system,
improved internal roadways and implemented new
operating procedures. |
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Additionally,
Republic Services has improved the efficiency of the
operation by purchasing two trailer tippers to speed
the unloading of waste material at the active portion
of the landfill. The Chiquita Canyon Disposal Facility
is operated in a manner which protects public health
and the environment.
This fact sheet has
been designed to help you become better acquainted
with the operations of the Chiquita Canyon Disposal
Facility. The following are commonly asked questions
about the site.
Q. How much waste is accepted daily?
A. The facility accepts approximately 5,000 to 6,000
tons per day. The landfill is restricted to receive
no more than 6,000 tons per day or 30,000 tons per
week.
Q. Where does the waste originate?
A. The waste disposed at the Chiquita Canyon facility
is generated at homes and businesses the greater metropolitan
Los Angeles area and unincorporated Ventura County.
Q. What types of wastes are accepted at the
Chiquita Canyon Landfill?
A. Solid wastes from homes and commercial establishments
are accepted at the landfill. Some examples of the
waste disposed at the Chiquita Canyon facility include
discarded food, broken furniture, and paper products
such as napkins and tissues. Additionally, industrial
wastes, including treated auto-shredding wastes, are
also disposed of at the Chiquita Canyon facility.
No liquid, radioactive
or hazardous wastes are accepted at the landfill.
Additionally, the landfill does not accept untreated
medical waste, car batteries and tires.
Q. What environmental protection systems are
in place at the landfill?
A. The network of environmental protection systems
at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill starts with a composite
liner that far exceeds federal requirements. The liner
is made of clay and synthetic material. Two feet of
clay is compacted to increase the impermeability of
the liner. A geo-synthetic liner and a 40-mil high-density
plastic membrane are placed over the clay. A drainage
layer is installed over the liner. The liner system
meets all state and federal regulations.
The environmental
protection system also includes a leachate collection
system in which perforated pipe is placed atop the
liner to allow for proper drainage/collection of rainwater
and other liquids in the landfill. Once collected,
the liquid is shipped off site for treatment.
Rainfall which is
diverted away from the landfill must also be managed.
At the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, storm water runoff
is collected and contained in sedimentation basins.
These ponds allow soil particles to settle out of
the water before it is discharged to a nearby waterway.
Groundwater is one
of the most important concerns at a landfill and requires
special monitoring. Groundwater monitoring wells have
been installed throughout the site to ensure that
landfill operations are not impacting groundwater.
Each of the wells is sampled on a monthly basis, with
the results sent to the California Department of Environmental
Protection and Water Resources Board.
A gas management system
was installed in the early 1990’s and is used
to control the methane gas, which is naturally produced
during waste decomposition. The gas is collected and
safely burned at a single enclosed flare stack located
on the site. This system has greatly reduced odors
and prevents gas migration.
Q. What additional
steps are taken to ensure that the landfill is a good
neighbor?
A. Proper daily operations are critical to environmentally
sound waste disposal. Therefore, all employees at
Chiquita Canyon Landfill are trained to handle incoming
waste in the most environmentally responsible manner.
Access to the site
is limited to one entrance and one exit. The facility
records and tracks all shipments to the landfill with
scales and gate receipts. Each load of incoming waste
is visually inspected to ensure that only permitted
materials are accepted for disposal. Once unloaded,
the waste is immediately compacted to conserve airspace.
At the end of each working day, daily cover is placed
over the compacted waste to minimize odors.
Steps are also taken
to control dust and litter at the landfill. Periodic
watering of access roads prevents dust from rising
when trucks travel in and out of the landfill. Limiting
the size of the active disposal area, applying daily
cover and using fencing on windy days to catch lightweight
materials minimizes litter. Laborers collect any litter
that blows away from the landfill.
Q. How do you control odors?
A. Odors are controlled with good operational programs
and the landfill gas management system.
Q. Who permits and inspects the facility?
A. The facility is fully permitted by California Department
of Environmental Protection, Water Resources Board,
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and
the South Coast Air Quality Management Board. State
and local inspectors regularly inspect the site.
Q. What is the life expectancy of the landfill?
A. The life expectancy varies depending on the volume
of waste received for disposal. At current disposal
rates, the landfill is expected to have capacity for
16 to 18 years.
Q. When is
the landfill open for business?
A. The Chiquita Canyon Landfill is open Monday through
Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The landfill is closed on Sundays
and major holidays.
Q. Can I take a tour of the landfill?
A. Yes. Please contact the General Manager of the
landfill to arrange for a tour.
Q. Who can I contact for more information?
A. For more information on the Chiquita Canyon Landfill,
please contact:
Mike Dean
General Manager
Chiquita Canyon Landfill
29201 Henry Mayo Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
Telephone: 661/257-3655
Fax: 661/257-5730
