Outlook Planet Desk
A growing number of US landfills, including one in Chiquita Canyon near Los Angeles, are overheating and leaking toxic gas and leachate. These underground reactions are sparking fires, polluting communities and triggering serious health concerns for residents apart from posing environmental risks.
Deep inside landfills, a build-up of methane gas, chemical reactions and moisture from decomposing waste generates intense underground heat. In some cases, oxygen intrusion—often during gas extraction—intensifies the reaction, sparking spontaneous combustion and long-lasting fires.
The underground heat releases toxic gases and leachate—a chemical-laden liquid that can seep into groundwater, pollute nearby land , air and pose serious health risks to surrounding communities.
Val Verde resident Brandi was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer after years of clean scans. Around the same time, neighbours reported worsening odours —like rotten eggs and chemicals—along with headaches, nosebleeds and unexplained illnesses, especially in children, as per Bloomberg.
Official complaints increased from 900 in 2023 to over 9,500 in 2024. Regulators cited Chiquita Canyon for hundreds of air quality violations. One landfill section overheated above 200°F, releasing gases linked to cancer and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage.
Since 2006, at least 10 US landfills have overheated, with residents nearby reporting headaches, nausea and potential cancer clusters. Despite repeated violations, operators kept accepting waste. Experts say landfill oversight remains patchy and too weak across states.
When rainwater seeps through landfill waste, it forms a toxic liquid called leachate, carrying poisons like arsenic, lead, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Once it enters soil or water, it’s nearly impossible to clean. Meanwhile, landfills capturing methane for energy risk oxygen intrusion—creating a volatile mix that can spark underground fires and destabilize the site.
Experts urge stronger federal oversight to address landfill safety gaps. They recommend tighter methane management to prevent underground fires and a national push toward sustainable waste solutions—like recycling, composting and modern waste-to-energy plants—to reduce landfill pressure and long-term health risks.
As landfills overheat and toxic leaks continue, it’s the nearby communities—often low-income and underrepresented—that suffer first and most. Without immediate systemic change, the health and future of millions remain at serious risk.