California sues Los Angeles-area Chiquita Canyon landfill over benzene-tainted leachate and odors

California has sued the operators of the Chiquita Canyon landfill in Castaic, Los Angeles County, alleging years of failure to properly manage leachate and odors that harmed nearby residents and waterways. According to mynewsla's October 27 report, the state Attorney General's lawsuit says a reaction inside the landfill has produced odors, toxic fumes and millions of gallons of leachate, with benzene found in the leachate and, at times, methyl ethyl ketone.

The late-2025 spill

The suit says that on November 14, 2025, about 8,000 gallons of leachate spilled into an eastern stormwater basin that was not permitted to store hazardous waste; after heavy rain, stormwater mixed with leachate flowed from the basin into Castaic Creek on December 29 and 30, and the creek flows into the Santa Clara River. In May, the county's Solid Waste Facilities Hearing Board voted 3-0 to uphold an order requiring the landfill to install a thick geomembrane cover by August 31, including a disputed 66-acre section; officials said an existing soil cover had not fully controlled odors, nearby communities have submitted thousands of odor complaints, and residents have reported physical and mental health concerns.

A state suit joins several enforcement fronts

A September 29 state audit said Chiquita had appealed the county hearing board's decision to CalRecycle, and that the company expected to complete 100 additional acres of cover required by the EPA by December 1 — though county staff told auditors that work would still leave about 66 acres uncovered under the county order. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the harm caused by the landfill has never been contained to its boundaries, and accountability has to match the scale of that harm. The state lawsuit adds to enforcement actions by other local, state and federal agencies, as well as lawsuits filed by Los Angeles County and residents.