The Toxic Substances Control Administration has taken most of Exide’s residential cleaning waste to the South Yuma County Landfill. Arizona’s environmental regulator announced in 2021 thatimminent serious threatInvestigations found windblown debris, large amounts of “germs” (flies and birds), and groundwater containing high levels of chromium (a metal that can be harmful to humans and the environment). Did.

The landfill has made amendments to resolve these and other violations, according to Arizona regulators.

Ex. The trash has been going to that state. From Jan. 25 to Feb. 10, he shipped 52 hazardous wastes from Exide housecleaning to the Yuma landfill, according to figures provided by the Toxic Substances Control Agency.

In Arizona, a lawmaker told CalMatters he didn’t know California was dumping so much hazardous waste into state landfills, saying he was “extremely concerned.”

“Arizona is not a dumping ground and carrying California’s hazardous waste is so close to Arizona’s agricultural heartland that the Colorado River poses problems no matter how many precautions are taken,” said the Arizona legislator. said Mariana Sandoval of The District, which includes the surrounding area of ​​the Southern Yuma County Landfill. “I hope our new governor will take a closer look at this…and encourage California to find landfills in their state for their waste.”

New Plan for California Toxic Waste

Officials mostly pointed to the 2021 law as to whether Californians can expect major policy changes demand the state to create a new one Hazardous Waste Management PlanAs part of the process, the Toxic Substances Control Administration will release a report in March looking at how much hazardous waste the state is generating and how it is being disposed of.

“The (hazardous waste management) plan will reduce hazardous waste generation, manage more waste in the state, and address concerns such as the impact of hazardous waste on disadvantaged communities,” the ministry said in a statement. We propose strategies to deal with

The proposed plan does not expire until spring 2025.

California Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia was asked how the state could justify continuing to dump hazardous waste in out-of-state landfills next to Native American reservations. rice field.

“The hazardous waste challenges we face across the nation have been created for decades. We are fully committed to addressing this with urgency, and our priority is to invest in finding solutions to that end.”

She said the bill, which led to more stable funding for the hazardous waste planning process and the department, “has improved our ability to address this and other toxic waste issues. Regulatory Oversight of DTSC” Demanding the necessary research and public engagement to strengthen public health and reach consensus on solutions puts us in the right direction, but the path to achieving improvements on the ground involves a multitude of A true partnership with our stakeholders and how we produce, treat and dispose of hazardous waste across the board.”

San Joaquin Valley Hazardous Waste Landfill

Regulators, environmental advocates and lawmakers say the issue is complex and any solution is likely to be controversial.

California has limited ability to regulate interstate commerce. State regulators said there wasn’t much they could do to stop private companies from taking waste across the border.

California has only two hazardous waste landfills, both in the San Joaquin Valley. Kettleman Hills Facility Kings County and Buttonwillow Landfill Facility in Kern County.

On paper, the site appears to have enough space to take in the contaminated soil. Last year, Jennifer Andrews, a spokesperson for WM (previously known as Waste Management Inc.), which operates the Kettleman Hills facility, told CalMatters that the facility is “the state’s hazardous waste disposal facility.” We have enough capacity to meet our needs.”

“We also have ample space to meet[the Toxic Substances Control Administration]waste needs for many years to come, provided the authorities allow a new disposal unit at our site.”

However, two landfill sites are controversial. Both have been the subject of numerous regulatory violations over the years, and proponents have long protested against sites close to communities of color. Toxic Substances Control Agency in 2014 approved the extension Kettleman Hills encouraged environmental justice and community groups to file civil rights complaints, according to records.