New limits considered for Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar

GRANADA HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar has been a source of thousands of complaints from neighbors about odors and health hazards for years.

On Saturday, San Fernando Valley residents got a chance to air their grievances to a board that is considering new limits on the facility's operations.

"I live a mile and a half from the dump and the odors from the dump have been getting worse and worse," said Granada Hills resident William Huntley.

Residents are concerned not only about the odors from the area's largest landfill, but about the potential for harmful particulates being carried through the air to their lungs.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has proposed an order of abatement that includes reducing landfill waste intake by 3,000 tons a day and delaying the start time of refuse deliveries.

Attorneys for Sunshine Canyon say several tests done by independent agencies show no evidence of potential health hazards and they argue that measures have already been taken to control the stench.

"Since January of 2011, the landfill has tripled its capability to collect and destroy landfill gas," said landfill attorney Thomas Bruen.

The SCAQMD and attorneys for the landfill will present their case to the administrative panel over the next five hearings and the public will also provide testimony. The SCAQMD's independent panel will ultimately decide by voting if the landfill needs to make changes.