California Sues Waste Connections Over Chiquita Canyon Landfill

State regulators allege hazardous waste violations tied to an ongoing underground heat event, contaminated leachate releases and pollution at the closed Los Angeles County landfill.

MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) filed a lawsuit on October 27 against Waste Connections and other operators of the closed Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Los Angeles County, alleging repeated hazardous waste management violations linked to an ongoing subsurface elevated temperature event.

The landfill stopped accepting waste in January 2025. Nearby residents have reported persistent odors and health complaints, including headaches, nausea and breathing difficulties.

California Alleges Hazardous Leachate Spills and Water Contamination

According to the lawsuit, underground temperatures have exceeded 212°F, contributing to gas emissions and the generation of millions of gallons of leachate containing chemicals including benzene and methyl ethyl ketone.

Regulators allege that operators improperly collected, transported, treated and stored hazardous materials.

The complaint cites an approximately 8,000-gallon leachate spill into an unauthorized stormwater basin in November 2025. Subsequent December rainfall allegedly caused contaminated stormwater to overflow into Castaic Creek, which flows into the Santa Clara River.

Bonta said regulators had identified "consistent evidence of leaks, seeps, and spills of hazardous leachate and improper transport, treatment, and storage of hazardous materials."

The lawsuit alleges violations of California's Hazardous Waste Control Law and unfair competition provisions. The state seeks civil penalties, disgorgement, injunctive relief and an abatement fund to address environmental contamination.

Waste Connections Disputes Allegations, Cites Remediation Progress

Waste Connections did not respond to Waste Dive's request for comment. However, a statement posted on the landfill's website said "many of the allegations in this lawsuit are without merit and much of the political rhetoric ignores the current conditions at the landfill and the hard work of Chiquita and its employees."

During the company's third-quarter earnings call, held before the lawsuit announcement, CEO Ron Mittelstaedt said remediation was progressing according to schedule and described the underground reaction as following "a typical curve of a decelerating ETLF."

Mittelstaedt said cooling conditions should reduce leachate generation and associated disposal and infrastructure costs in upcoming quarters.

Chiquita Canyon remains subject to multiple legal and regulatory proceedings, including litigation involving Los Angeles County and the landfill operator.

Courtesy: www.wastedive.com