Landfill pollution

Neighbours of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California has become so smelly that homeowners near the site have filed a lawsuit against the landfill's owners for the smell.

The operators have racked up 55 citations and fines totalling $450,000, and are dealing with the problem slowly. Residents have filed thousands of complaints with the Air Quality Management District, claiming that they have to keep their windows shut, can't entertain and their property values have plummeted.

This is a very large landfill, receiving 9,000 tons of garbage each day.

Local officials don't necessarily agree whether it's best for the environment surrounding the 300-acre property for it to remain in operation under a new owner or to shut it down.

South Hadley owns a landfill that is operated by a private operator. The town believes that the operator accepted banned material at the landfill, and wants the state regulator to fine the operator.

Interesting that what appears to be relatively straightforward contractual matter between the town and its contractor should need action from a state agency. There is a lesson to be learned there.

Interesting to note that the town receives about $1.5m per year from the operation, or about $10/ton of waste.

The management of landfill leachate is always an issue. Here the leachate was being discharged to the town's wastewater treatment plant, however it was causing problems for the plant. As a result, the borough will treat leachate on site using an evaporation unit.