Millions of pounds of decomposing food waste removed from a burned cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights have been transported to a landfill in Simi Valley, prompting complaints from local residents about foul odors. The source of the smell has raised concerns two months after the June fire at the Lineage cold storage facility, which contained large amounts of rotting food including meat and fish.
The Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, operated by Waste Management California, received some of the waste from the Lineage warehouse. Residents in Simi Valley reported odors resembling rotten eggs or meat, with some initially suspecting a dead animal nearby. George Khalatian, president of the Big Sky Homeowners Association, said the smell was strong enough to be noticeable two miles from the landfill. Residents reported symptoms such as nausea, itchy eyes, and scratchy throats linked to exposure to the odor.
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District conducted an inspection on August 11 after receiving multiple complaints and confirmed that the landfill was emitting odors related to putrescent food waste. As a result, the agency issued a notice of violation to Waste Management California, instructing the landfill to resume operations that do not constitute a public nuisance.
Waste Management California stated that the Lineage waste made up a very small percentage of the daily waste accepted at the site. The company said the food waste underwent odor mitigation treatments both before transport and upon arrival at the landfill. They also noted that food waste is a routine component of permitted materials at the facility.
Meanwhile, in Boyle Heights, the cleanup effort at the Lineage cold storage warehouse continues to draw scrutiny. Lineage announced that it had removed approximately 88 million pounds of rotting food from the site, spending more than $100 million on the operation involving hundreds of workers. However, city officials, including Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, criticized the company for missing a 45-day deadline to clear the waste and pledged to pursue independent verification of cleanup progress. Jurado emphasized ongoing pressure for accountability and relief for affected Boyle Heights residents.
Local opposition in Simi Valley has also raised concerns about receiving waste from large-scale incidents. Residents recalled the landfill accepting charred debris from recent regional fires, leading to previous community meetings to address related health and environmental fears. Some expressed unease about the accumulation of waste from hazardous events at the landfill site.
Though the odors have reportedly diminished in recent days, residents and officials continue to monitor the situation. The air pollution control district’s directive requires the landfill to maintain operations that prevent further public nuisance caused by odors from disposed waste.