L.A. County Raises Landfill Debris Limits Amid Concerns

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an increase in daily dumping limits at the Lancaster, Sunshine Canyon, and Calabasas landfills to accommodate debris from the Palisades and Eaton fires. This decision was made despite strong opposition from local residents concerned about public and environmental safety. The Calabasas Landfill will now accept debris from outside its usual service area for six months, while the Sunshine Canyon and Lancaster landfills will see their daily tonnage limits increased from 12,000 to 15,000 tons and from 3,000 to 7,000 tons, respectively. These measures aim to quickly and safely remove potentially hazardous debris, though officials assured that hazardous materials like asbestos and propane tanks had been removed in earlier cleanup phases. The changes are temporary, lasting six months for Calabasas and 120 days for the other two landfills. Local leaders, including Calabasas Mayor Peter Kraut, have expressed skepticism about the ability to separate hazardous from non-hazardous materials effectively.