By Brian CHERNICK

Glendale and Eagle Rock residents showed up in large numbers at the Sept. 5 Glendale City Council meeting to express their concerns regarding the future of the Scholl Canyon Landfill and its possible expansion.

Located in the southeast of Glendale, bordering Pasadena and Eagle Rock just above the 134, the 56-year-old integrated waste disposal facility has primarily served Glendale – with Pasadena renting out space – and takes in an average of 700 tons of trash a day.

Activists and residents urged council to support a closure of the 535-acre landfill by 2028 rather than expanding its functionality or size. Some speakers expressed concerns about the landfill’s expansion potentially damaging air quality and reducing property values, and its precarious location about half a mile away from the Verdugo fault line, which scientists have estimated could produce a 6.0 to 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

Suggestions from speakers ranged from implementing a zero-waste policy throughout the city, transferring city waste to the Mesquite Regional Landfill and considering other energy sources such as wind and solar as opposed to biogas from methane.

The request comes after a unanimous decision by council members in July to examine the possibilities of implementing green-waste technology at Scholl Canyon, which would potential expand its functionality.

The options weighed by council included converting the methane into additional energy at the Grayson Power Plant. Currently the methane produced at Scholl Canyon is already being used to generate electricity. The implementation of an anaerobic digester system would allow for richer methane, and more power that could be sold for a profit.

City Manager Scott Ochoa took issue with some of the speakers’ concerns, expressing that council is not trying to rush through the issue and asked that residents and constituents wait “until the science is in” – including an environmental impact reports (EIR) – before making a decision on the matter.

“Closing the landfill, whether it’s tomorrow, in 2018 or 2028, is actually very easy. It doesn’t take a lick of courage,” Ochoa said. “Because who is going to be on the side of sustaining an integrated waste facility – a dump, to use the term.”

In an effort to assure those concerned with the future prospects of the facility, Ochoa said that the council would be diligent in its efforts to follow the California Environmental Quality Act and expressed that he wanted to be clear on the possible impacts on the environment and community before taking any action on the matter.

An ongoing study conducted by Waste Resources, Inc. and OWS, Inc. is examining the feasibility of implementing an anaerobic digester that would break down organic waste – such as food – into methane, which would then be delivered to the city’s power plant.

The study was estimated to take up to six months when it was voted on and passed back in July. An EIR is also being compiled before council makes any decisions on an expansion.

City council is not expected to make any decisions on expansion until the spring.

  Brian CHERNICK