But for Glenoaks Canyon residents, the two expansion alternatives may take the impact of living near a landfill too far.
“Most people are lucky enough not to have a landfill in their own backyard,” said Joan Morris, president of the Glenoaks Canyon Homeowners Assn. “Residents in Glenoaks Canyon, unfortunately, do have a landfill in our own backyards, and we will be vigilant to make sure that the landfill does not impact our lives in a negative way.”
One proposal to be studied in the draft environmental impact report would expand the landfill’s elevation 175 feet, producing an extra 11 million cubic yards of capacity — enough room for 5 million tons of trash, according to the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, the lead agency preparing the report.
That plan would add 12 years to the life of the landfill, according to the agency.
An alternative would also add 200 horizontal feet to the project area, increasing capacity by an extra 3 million cubic yards — or enough room for 6 million tons of waste — and add an additional three years to the landfill’s extended life span.
“There will be more visibility from the west and remote locations to the east, so that’s something we’ll certainly be evaluating the aesthetics of,” said Charles Boehmke, head of planning for the county sanitation districts.
In either case, the expansion would come replete with trees and landscaping to reduce the visual impact, he said.
Although engineers are still in the early stages of preparing the draft environmental impact report, nearby residents are concerned about what the eventual effects of an expansion of an already dominant landfill will mean for their neighborhood.
