Posted by Councilmember Englander on November 04, 2016 at 4:02 PM

Today, I introduced a motion to the Los Angeles City Council requesting that the Bureau of Sanitation immediately begin preparation for finding an alternative disposal site to the Sunshine Canyon Landfill for the City’s municipal solid waste stream. Additionally, the motion asks the City Attorney to report back on legal recourse for the community having suffered as a result of “odors that affect the health and well-being of residents in the surrounding neighborhoods” according to Los Angeles County Public Health.

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a Notice of Violation to Republic Services, the operators of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill, having determined that odors that come from the site affect the health and well-being of residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.
 
Additionally, Republic Services is the subject of an abatement order for odors from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The Order includes a mandated reduction in hours of operation and tonnage accepted for disposal. This is the second such order from SCAQMD, the first having expired without resolution to the odor issue.
 
The City of Los Angeles uses Sunshine Canyon Landfill for its municipal solid waste disposal, tipping up to 3,000 or more tons a day at the site. Additionally, on May 10, 2010 the City exercised Contract Amendment 3 with Browning-Ferris Industries of California (now Republic Services) to utilize Sunshine Canyon through June 30 of 2021 for up to $32 million annually.
 
Given the County Health Department’s assessment of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill odors affecting the health of residents, it is unconscionable that the City should continue to dump its trash there. With over 9,000 odor complaints since 2009, Republic Services has proven they are incapable of controlling odors from the site.