Community Experiences: Survey on Odors and Health Impacts near the Chiquita Canyon Landfill Incident

Since early 2022, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill (CCL) has been experiencing a subsurface reaction in an inactive area of the landfill, leading to several issues for community members nearby. These include unpleasant odors being released, which have resulted in thousands of complaints. Local, state, and federal agencies continue working with working with the landfill operator to monitor and control the reaction and effectively reduce these odors and their impact on neighboring communities.

To assess the effectiveness of these efforts, Los Angeles County is conducting an ongoing survey of those living or working near the landfill. Your feedback will help us understand how well the control measures are working. We’re asking for details on:

Where and when you notice the odors
The type and strength of the odors
How long the odors last
Any effects these odors have on your health and daily activities

The survey is available 24/7 and can be completed whenever you or someone in your household experiences odors. Please feel free to fill it out as often as needed to help us track the effectiveness of the ongoing efforts.

Your feedback can help Los Angeles County and its state and federal partners improve monitoring and response efforts, identify patterns, and enhance our understanding of the impact of environmental conditions related to this reaction. Participation in this survey is completely voluntary.

The survey will remain open as actions are taken to control the subsurface reaction. Monthly summaries of survey responses will be posted on this website.

Your responses are confidential, and individual data will not be shared. The survey results will be used to monitor the effectiveness of the efforts and assess their impact on the community.

Thank you for helping us understand and assess the effectiveness of these efforts.

Summary of Survey Responses as of May 7, 2025.

1,218

Total number of responses

39.8%

Reported a highly offensive odor

16.2%

Reported irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat

17.8%

Reported experiencing
headaches

16.7%

Reported the odor lasted 4-12 hours

29.3%

Reported the odors occuring from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m

28.1%

Reported a very strong
odor

35.9%

Reported the odor significantly impacted their daily activities

Heat Map

The heat map shows where survey respondents indicated they experienced the odor. Dark red areas represent the highest number of responses, while lighter orange areas indicate fewer responses. This map highlights the locations where survey respondents indicate they smelled the odors, but it does not show the severity of any reported odors.

Pie Chart Cluster Map

The pie chart cluster map groups survey responses by location where the odor was experienced and displays them as pie charts. The size of each chart represents the total number of responses in that area, while the slices show the different levels of odor severity. Larger pie charts indicate areas with more responses indicated, and the colors within each chart reflect the reported severity of odors.

To view a summary of all the responses to date, please click the button below.

Method: The survey was launched on October, 28, 2024. Data is collected through an online form, which can be completed on a computer or smartphone. The survey is available 24/7, allowing individuals to fill it out whenever they notice an odor. Each time an odor is experienced, participants are encouraged to complete a survey for that specific occurrence, providing the relevant details. The survey can be submitted as many times as odors are noticed.

South Coast AQMD is authorized by law to respond to air quality complaints within its jurisdiction. Participants are also encouraged to report any strong odors, smoke, dust, or other air pollutants (except for smoking vehicles) directly to South Coast AQMD through their online complaint system or by calling 1-800-CUT SMOG^® (1-800-288-7664).