A major environmental scandal is unfolding in Southern California as 14 waste management companies and 12 landowners face accusations of large-scale illegal dumping across multiple counties. The alleged dumping sites span across the Antelope Valley, San Bernardino County, and Kern County regions.
Environmental attorney Chris Nidel has filed civil lawsuits and is preparing a federal citizen's lawsuit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act against the accused parties. The suits allege that waste haulers have been illegally dumping massive amounts of trash, construction debris, and contaminated organic waste on private rural lands.
Among the accused companies is Athens Services, which holds a $687 million contract with the City of Los Angeles for processing residential organic waste. Republic Waste Services of California, which has a $900 million recycling contract with LA, is also named in the legal action.
The illegal dumping has created serious environmental and safety concerns. The LA County Fire Department reports responding to over 70 trash and mulch-related fires between 2020 and 2024, with costs exceeding $1.6 million. One such fire, the Apollo Fire, burned 800 acres and resulted in the death of several dogs.
Local residents have documented more than 20 sites where waste haulers allegedly dump tons of trash in rural unincorporated communities. The dumped materials often include construction waste, ground concrete, glass, plastics, and chemical containers mixed with mulch to disguise the contents.
The financial impact on local governments has been substantial. Los Angeles County's cleanup costs have nearly tripled from $2.3 million in fiscal year 2019-2020 to $6.8 million in 2023-2024. The county expects reported illegal dumping cases to exceed 15,800 in 2024.
Athens Services has denied the allegations, stating they do not engage in illegal dumping and that their organic material processing complies with state regulations. Republic Waste Services has also disputed the claims, emphasizing their commitment to ethical business practices.
The LA County Sheriff's Department notes that prosecuting these cases is challenging, as deputies must catch dumpers in the act. The Environmental Crimes Division of the LA County District Attorney's Office reported zero prosecutions last year, down from 15 cases in 2019.
In response to the crisis, CalRecycle has implemented emergency regulations to increase oversight of unpermitted landfills and waste haulers, including stricter testing and record-keeping requirements for dumped materials.