{{section.number}}a
CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Update on Scholl Canyon Landfill Closure
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Reports-Information
Approved for March 12, 2024 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the September 13, 2022, meeting, the City Council reviewed a report on the Update on Scholl Canyon Landfill Operations and Closure. The outcome of this meeting was that City Council moved to allow the landfill to close upon reaching capacity, noting the estimated closure projection at the time, was around December of 2025. Since the September 2022 report, several circumstances at the landfill have changed. Most notably, average daily tonnage of refuse disposed at the landfill had reduced which has extended the projected landfill closure date. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on Scholl Canyon Landfill operations including the closure projection and landfill monitoring activities.
RECOMMENDATION
This is a report for information only.
ANALYSIS
At their September 13, 2022 meeting, the City Council reviewed a report on the Update on Scholl Canyon Landfill Operations and Closure. The report covered the anticipated landfill closure projection and offered several scenarios concerning the City’s Wasteshed Ordinance, No. 4780, which enacted Glendale Municipal Code, Section 8.56.060, defining the wasteshed area and the entities/cities which were allowed to dispose solid waste in the Landfill. Alternatives were provided by staff on potentially modifying the Wasteshed ordinance to extend the life of the landfill should the City Council desire it.
At the time, the Scholl Canyon Landfill was receiving in an average of about 1,400 tons per day (tpd) of municipal solid waste (MSW), and approximately 1.4 million tons of capacity remained in the active sections of the landfill. Presuming that the volume of material being deposited at the landfill as of June 2022, was to stay consistent, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District’s (LACSD) anticipated closure date was projected to be achieved somewhere between July of 2025 and June of 2026. At the September 2022 City Council meeting, the report estimated the closure date for the landfill as around 2{{section.number}}a
5 0
0 9
December of 2025.
The City Council ultimately moved to not revise the City’s Wasteshed Ordinance and to allow the landfill to close upon reaching capacity, noting the December 2025 closure expectation estimated at the time. The Council further moved for staff to pursue raising tipping fees at Scholl and consider the impacts of expanding the wasteshed.
Current Circumstances
Since this initial report, the following circumstances have influenced the present status of the landfill’s operations.
First, tipping fees at Scholl have been increased since September of 2022 from $61.10 per ton to the current rate of $95.46 per ton for MSW.
Additionally, the tonnage of MSW being deposited at Scholl has notably decreased. The 12-month average of MSW deposited in Scholl from January 2022 to December 2022 was 1,353 tpd. The 12-month average of MSW deposited in Scholl from January 2023 to December 2023 was 1,069 tpd. LACSD’s newly estimated projection for Scholl reaching capacity, based upon a rate of 1000 tpd, is mid to late 2027.
LACSD attributes this to a few factors. First, LACSD believes that a portion of this reduction is associated with progress in regionwide waste diversion efforts, respective of SB1383 compliance and other waste reduction measures.
Also, one of Scholl’s regular customers, Universal Waste Systems (UWS), have opened their own facility for handling material, whereas they previously brought material in from Altadena. Typically, they were bringing in about 350 tons per week. Starting in August of 2023, that amount has been reduced to nearly zero.
Another significant tonnage reduction is attributed to Non-Registered Haulers coming from Glendale and Pasadena. Those Scholl customers previously deposited about 3,000 tons per week, which has dropped by half in recent months. This is likely the result of the increased tipping fees at Scholl, driving these haulers to seek out other facilities offering lower rates.
Due to the decrease in tonnage, the landfill revenue is expected to drop accordingly. In Fiscal Year 2022-23, the landfill revenue was $11.2 million. For FY 2023-24, the revenue forecast is $9.6 million and then $9.2 million annually in the subsequent years until closure.
Ongoing Monitoring Safety and Controls
Much has been reported in recent months about other larger privately run landfills in the region experiencing issues with fires and erosion. Scholl continues to have safety controls and practices in place to monitor and prevent these matters from occurring.
Pursuant to regulatory requirements, site staff collects temperature readings at each landfill gas wellhead. This same method is employed at the inactive/closed areas of 3{{section.number}}a
5 0
0 9
Scholl. If temperatures near 145°F, landfill operations staff have the ability to initiate remediation measures. These measures may include reducing vacuum to the collector; reducing oxygen/air intrusion; adjusting surrounding gas collectors; and inspecting the soil cover in the area for cracks. The landfill gas collection system also has redundancy built in, with valves throughout that allow staff to isolate sections of the system, and/or redirect collected gas within the system. Despite the presence of these measures, no such remediation efforts have been necessary to employ, as temperatures have remained below this margin and have not shown any significant fluctuations.
With regards to stormwater and erosion, LACSD manages stormwater and associated stormwater discharges from Scholl in accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit and CalRecycle requirements. LACSD has implemented a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan in accordance with the General Permit to ensure stormwater discharges do not adversely affect downstream surface water quality and ensure best management practices. The stormwater diversion and control facilities at Scholl have been designed to accommodate the calculated 100- year, 24-hour design storm. The control of stormwater runoff is maintained by grading the operating decks to provide for rapid removal of stormwater without creating excessive velocities that would cause erosion of the surface, while avoiding ponding of water. All stormwater that drains from the industrial areas of the landfill is collected in lined basins before being discharged. Stormwater that comes into contact with refuse is diverted to a sanitary sewer for treatment.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Over the years, numerous public meetings and community outreach activities have accompanied any significant proposed changes to the Scholl Canyon site and/or Landfill operations. As the Landfill nears its date of closure, the city will conduct stakeholder outreach relating to the nature and type of future recreational uses of the land, in order to make the appropriate recommendations to the City Council for consideration to ensure that the public is included in any decision-making process concerning the Landfill.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
This item is not subject to CEQA as no action is being taken.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
4{{section.number}}a
5 0
0 9
Prepared by:
Dan Hardgrove, Assistant Director of Public Works
Reviewed by:
Daniel Hernandez, Interim Director of Public Works
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
None