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City gives detailed update on Calabasas landfill handling of wildfire ash, hours and tonnage to increase temporarily
Summary
Agoura Hills staff outlined how household hazardous materials and ash from recent fires will be processed and confirmed ash destined for the Calabasas landfill will be sprayed, encased, and offloaded under oversight; the landfill will temporarily extend hours and increase daily tonnage under a waiver to speed cleanup.
Agoura Hills — City staff and council members on Feb. 12 provided a detailed briefing on the handling of wildfire debris at the Calabasas Landfill and what residents should expect while cleanup continues.
The city described a two-phase removal process overseen by federal and county agencies. Phase 1, the city said, involves identification and removal of household hazardous materials — items such as batteries, herbicides, pesticides, propane tanks, asbestos siding and paint — which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will identify and take to certified facilities. Those hazardous materials will not be taken to the Calabasas Landfill, the city said.
Phase 2 covers structural debris, foundations, hazardous trees and contaminated soil and ash; the city said those materials are being removed now by contractors working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The city emphasized that ash waste brought to the Calabasas Landfill will be sprayed at the site of origin, encased in government-regulated plastic sheeting for transport in certified special-waste trucks, then sprayed again upon arrival, offloaded and covered nightly. The city said the Calabasas Landfill is a Class III facility permitted to accept burned residential debris and has environmental controls including a composite liner and groundwater monitoring. Air quality monitoring will be performed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
City staff said the portion of the landfill nearest Agoura Hills (the west side) does not have a protective liner and will not be used for this debris; the ash will be deposited in lined areas. Officials said federal oversight and certified drivers will monitor transport and that ash from the Eaton Fire (Pasadena area) is not being brought to Calabasas.
To speed cleanup, the Calabasas Landfill has temporarily extended hours to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., increased on-site inspectors from one to three and received a waiver to increase daily deposits from the current 3,500 tons-per-day limit to 5,000 tons per day. Staff said trucks will operate six days a week and use both freeways and local canyon roads; officials acknowledged increased truck traffic and said cities and elected officials would continue monitoring operations and environmental controls.
Councilmembers asked staff to assure residents that hazardous materials will not be routed to Calabasas and to monitor air and groundwater testing. The city encouraged residents in Old Agoura and surrounding neighborhoods to follow updates and said local elected officials are coordinating oversight with county and federal partners.
The city presented the update during the intergovernmental reports portion of the meeting; no council action or new local regulation was taken at this session.
