Recent Updates

This page was last updated on January 17, 2025

Summary of Activities

Chiquita’s December 2024 State of the Landfill Report is available here (en Español). This report provides a summary overview of the Elevated Temperature Landfill event that is occurring in a portion of the Landfill and the efforts Chiquita and its experts are taking to mitigate this event. This report includes data and information as of October 31, 2024 or Quarter Three of 2024. Chiquita intends to update this report periodically with more recent data, information, and analysis.

Here is a summary of the activities Chiquita has taken and/or mitigation measures Chiquita has implemented over the past week (1/13/25 – 1/17/25).

The source of any odors coming from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill is an increase in the production of landfill gas (LFG) and liquids at the Landfill. This increase in LFG and liquids production is due to an abnormal biotic or abiotic process (also known as a landfill reaction) taking place deep within a lined, but older and, inactive portion of the Landfill waste mass.  This reaction is not a fire or subsurface oxidation event within the waste mass, and is not related to current waste disposal operations at the Landfill.

Chiquita continues to work diligently with all of its regulators to address this landfill reaction and any related impacts. In November 2023, local, state, and federal agencies formed a Multi-Agency Critical Action Team (“MCAT”), led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), to coordinate regulatory efforts. In March 2024, this coordination shifted into a new phase, and the County, CalEPA, and U.S. EPA created a Response Multi-Agency Coordination Group (“R-MAC”) composed of federal, state, and local onsite coordinators. On October 14, 2024, the RMAC ended the emergency response phase of their work and the R-MAC disbanded. The MCAT now leads the regulatory efforts at the Landfill.

Public Notification: Toe Drain Installation Work

Chiquita has installed a new toe drain at the west and north slopes of the landfill as part of its continued mitigation of the ongoing elevated landfill temperature (ETLF) event or reaction. The west and north slopes were impacted by the increased leachate production. To avoid odors from the leachate, as well as to prevent leachate from commingling with stormwater, the west slope was previously covered by a plastic cover called a scrim. To improve leachate drainage and conditions at the west and north slopes, Chiquita removed the scrim and excavated into the waste mass to install a drain and sumps that will better control the leachate. Chiquita has now completed the excavation portion of this project, and has installed the new toe drain and covered the top deck, north slope, and west slope areas with a 30-mil geosynthetic cover.

Because no further excavation is expected to be performed as part of this project, Chiquita is discontinuing its weekly updates on this project. Chiquita will continue to work with its regulators to address the reaction and any impacts.

Health Impacts and Odor Impacts Assessment Reports

Pursuant to a Stipulated Order for Abatement with South Coast AQMD, Chiquita was required to have prepared by a third party an analysis of potential health impacts and an assessment of potential odor impacts. In compliance with this requirement, toxicologists with CTEH prepared a Health Impacts Report and toxicologists with Intertox prepared an Odor Impacts Assessment Report. An easy-to-read summary of the reports is attached immediately below, along with copies of the reports and supporting information: