Waste to Energy - Sunshine Canyon Landfill

Sunshine Canyon Landfill is just north of the O’Melveny Park trailhead. The landfill has been in operation since 1958 and is the final destination for approximately one third of Los Angeles County waste. Approximately 2.4 million tons of waste are brought to Sunshine Canyon each year. Sunshine Canyon landfill has donated more than 900 acres of woodland and grassland areas around the landfill. As sections of the landfill are closed to trash disposal, the land is restored to open space, where it becomes habitat for wildlife. When the site is closed, all land will be remediated and dedicated as park and open space.

Sunshine Canyon has a landfill gas-to-energy plant that can produce 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 15,000 local homes. The plant uses state-of-the-art turbines permitted by South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). It is estimated that the system reduces emissions by nearly 118,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 40,000 tons of methane per year by reducing the need for fossil fuels.

Sunshine Canyon Landfill is a zero discharge site. All liquids generated are reused for dust control. The facility has on-site nursery, and over the past 20 years has grown more than 20,000 oak trees from acorns on site. More than 7,500 oak trees have been planted on ridges and in open space surrounding Sunshine Canyon. The North Valley Coalition is a community advocacy group that works to minimize the impact of the landfill on surrounding communities