Informed Opinions on Today’s Topics : Has Landfill at Lopez Canyon Had Its Fill?

Plans to close the Lopez Canyon Landfill in early 1996 may be postponed by the Los Angeles City Council if Bureau of Sanitation recommendations to continue operating the facility through the year 2000 are approved.

The bureau’s suggestion came in response to a 1994 report that said the city could save $75 million by using the 20-year-old facility another five years instead of adopting an alternative method of trash disposal next year.

The council had approved a similar five-year extension back in 1991 and had given the bureau until next February to shut the landfill.

Outraged community members responded to the possibility of yet another extension by pointing to language in a 1991 conditional use permit that promised a one-time-only renewal of operations at Lopez Canyon.

But bureau directors said that not only would the extension generate cash savings, but more time is needed to study alternative disposal programs.

They maintain that the facility is one of the best-run landfills in California, despite four citations in the last three months by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for gas emissions violations.

Situated in the hills just above Lake View Terrace, the landfill takes in about 80% of the city’s household waste.

*

Should the Lopez Canyon Landfill be allowed to operate another five years?

Richard Alarcon, Los Angeles city councilman, 7th District

“We need to do a lot more to upgrade the system. By the year 2003, the life of this landfill will have expired. When that happens, we’ll need to negotiate with another agency to dispose of our trash. If anything, we should leave space open to allow us room to negotiate with that agency.”

Lander Warren, administrator of Forester Havens Senior Home, San Fernando

“Our grounds are (less than a mile) away from the landfill. Because of the intermittent odors and fumes coming out of there, our residents have experienced frequent headaches, burning eyes and exacerbated problems with breathing. We use buses to get people to the doctor or the hospital and, at times, are forced to wait for five trucks to go by before we can get through. Along with the noise, that is a nuisance.”

Drew Sones, assistant director of the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation

“The Lopez Canyon Landfill will have room for another 3 million tons of refuse in 1996. Normally, landfills take in an average of 1 million tons per year, but with recycling doing so well, it would take us five years to use up that remaining space. As an asset, the landfill would not be utilized to its full potential (if it were to close next year). Financial aspects, as well as environmental, need to be considered.”

Barbara Fine, vice chairwoman of the Solid Waste Citizens Advisory Group for Los Angeles

“It appears that an inclination toward landfilling has surfaced again. According to (Assembly Bill) 939, local agencies have to divert 50% of their refuse away from landfills by the year 2000. Our fear is that the waste management officials will eventually ask for a delay in those requirements when they find agencies unable to meet them. With more landfills open, less will be the incentive to recycle.”

Bill Thompson, senior manager of public facilities at the South Coast Air Quality Management District

“Landfills are still the cheapest way to dispose of trash. There have been a number of stringent regulations applied to them in the recent past. Most landfills can produce electrical energy from their gas emissions. The Puente Hills Landfill produces enough to light a few thousand households. A similar proposal was made for Lopez Canyon. We’re very supportive of that.”