Despite strong opposition from concerned residents, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to increase daily dumping limits at two local landfills. The Lancaster Landfill and Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar will now accept larger amounts of waste, including fire debris from the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Additionally, the board temporarily lifted restrictions at the Calabasas Landfill, allowing it to accept fire debris for six months, with the possibility of extensions. Typically, this landfill only receives waste from designated areas, including Calabasas, Malibu, and parts of Los Angeles.
The board’s decision allows Sunshine Canyon Landfill to take in 15,000 tons of waste per day, up from 12,000. The Lancaster Landfill, which had already been permitted to accept 5,000 tons daily under a temporary waiver, will now be authorized to take in 7,000 tons—more than double its original limit of 3,000 tons per day.
At a packed Board of Supervisors meeting, residents voiced their concerns about potential health and environmental risks from the increased dumping of fire debris. Calabasas Mayor Peter Kraut and Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian opposed the measure, expressing doubts about whether hazardous materials could be properly separated from non-hazardous waste.
County and federal officials assured the public that hazardous materials from fire zones, identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were being sent to designated hazardous waste facilities, not local landfills. They argued that non-hazardous fire debris, such as ash and wood, was being carefully managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to minimize any risks.
However, these reassurances did little to calm fears. Randi Feilich, vice chair of the Calabasas Environmental Commission, urged the county to take every precaution to ensure full compliance with safety regulations, stating, “The health and well-being of our residents should not be jeopardized in the name of expedience.”
Longtime Granada Hills resident Robert Martinez criticized the board for ignoring the reality of air pollution and hazardous chemicals already emanating from the dumping in landfills, while Calabasas resident Melissa Olen called the decision “beyond reckless,” warning that improper disposal of hazardous waste would have long-term consequences for public health and the environment.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath admitted frustration with the process, calling it a “bureaucratic disaster” and noting that even experts struggled to answer key questions about which agencies were responsible for overseeing various aspects of the fire waste disposal.
County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer acknowledged public concerns, particularly about exposure to ash and dust, but defended the decision, stating that strict landfill regulations make it unlikely that toxic materials would be released into the air.
Meanwhile, the EPA is expected to complete its Phase 1 hazardous material removal this week, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continuing Phase 2 cleanup efforts. However, many residents remain unconvinced that the county’s landfill expansion plan will be safe for their communities in the long run.
