The Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, California, has been mandated to address the odor affecting local neighborhoods after thousands of complaints and numerous violation notices. According to both the property owners and the AQMD, the smell is caused by dimethyl sulfide (DMS) that is coming from an older part of the landfill. DMS is a colorless, oily liquid that is often described as smelling like an onion or worse. The smell reportedly impacts multiple communities, including Castaic, Live Oak, Hasley Canyon, and Val Verde.

In early September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued an abatement order to the landfill’s operators, Waste Connections, to mitigate the odors impacting the community. Specifically, the operators must maximize the use of gas flares, submit monthly reports, bring in an expert committee to investigate and address the issue, and enhance overall monitoring efforts.

If you or your family were affected by smell coming from the landfill, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. For more information about the legal options available to you, we recommend that you seek legal assistance with the experts here at our law firm immediately. At the Downtown L.A. Law Group, our lawyers are more than ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the compensation that you are owed. Contact us today for more information about the legal options available to you.