California Sues Chiquita Canyon Landfill Operators Over Hazardous Waste Leaks and Subsurface Fire
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Department of Toxic Substances Control have filed a lawsuit against the operators of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, accusing them of repeatedly violating hazardous waste laws as a massive underground fire continues to expand.
The legal action, lodged in Los Angeles County Superior Court, targets Texas-based Waste Connections alongside Chiquita Canyon LLC and Chiquita Canyon Inc. The state is seeking civil penalties and equitable relief, alleging that mismanagement at the Castaic site has caused numerous spills and leaks of hazardous waste known as leachate into the surrounding environment.
State officials contend that the underground garbage fire, confirmed in 2023, has fueled the ongoing release of contaminated liquid. According to the lawsuit, the landfill’s leachate contains concentrations of benzene and methyl ethyl ketone that exceed hazardous waste thresholds, alongside other harmful constituents.
Operators rejected the allegations in a written statement, maintaining that many claims lack merit and ignore current conditions and employee efforts. The company stated that it has complied with relevant requirements, worked closely with California regulators to design a complex hazardous waste management program, and looks forward to defending itself against the state’s accusations.
The 639-acre landfill, which opened in 2022 and stopped accepting waste on Jan. 1, 2025, is surrounded by several residential communities including Val Verde, Hasley Canyon, Hasley Hills, North Bluffs, Live Oak, Stevenson Ranch, Hillcrest, and Williams Ranch. The Val Verde community sits approximately 1,000 feet northwest of the developed landfill area.
The lawsuit asserts that thousands of nearby residents continue to suffer from health issues such as headaches, dizziness, respiratory irritation, wheezing, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and sleep problems due to the improper handling of hazardous materials. The proximity to the site also affects approximately 6,700 students across multiple educational institutions, including Headstart Preschool, Playmakers Preschool, Live Oak Elementary School, Santa Clarita Valley International Elementary School, Oak Hills Elementary School, Castaic Elementary School, Rancho Pico Junior High School, Castaic Middle School, Castaic High School, and West Ranch High School.
While landfills often experience elevated underground temperatures from microbial waste breakdown, the state alleges an uncontrolled subsurface elevated temperature event has expanded rapidly since May 2022. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency flags temperatures at or above 131 degrees Fahrenheit as indicative of such events, Chiquita Canyon’s underground fire has exceeded 212 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing boiling point. The affected area has grown from roughly 20 acres in 2022 to approximately 90 acres.
This excessive heat has generated millions of gallons of leachate, a highly contaminated black liquid formed when moisture drains through solid waste and dissolves chemicals. Furthermore, the growing subterranean fire has warped a local hillside, prompting warnings from lawmakers such as Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo regarding the potential risk of a garbage and leachate slide into the community.
The state’s legal filing asks the court to find the operators in violation of multiple Hazardous Waste Control Laws and requests preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent further infractions.
