Overview
The County of Santa Barbara-Tajiguas Landfill in Gaviota, California, is an operational solid waste facility managing municipal waste under US EPA RCRA Subtitle D and California regulations.
The County of Santa Barbara-Tajiguas Landfill is an operational solid waste facility located at 4700 Highway 101, 23 miles west of Santa Barbara, in Gaviota, California. It serves Santa Barbara County and is classified under NAICS code 562212 for Solid Waste Landfills. The facility is situated in a coastal region with Mediterranean climate, influencing waste decomposition and management practices. As a landfill operating in the United States, the facility adheres to federal regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills, as well as Clean Air Act standards for landfill gas emissions. California imposes additional stringent requirements through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), including landfill gas collection and control systems to reduce methane emissions. The Tajiguas Landfill plays a critical role in managing the region's solid waste, serving a population of approximately 450,000 in Santa Barbara County. Its environmental significance includes managing leachate to protect groundwater in the coastal aquifer and implementing gas collection to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The facility's location near Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean requires careful attention to community proximity and traffic impacts.
Environmental context
The Tajiguas Landfill operates in a coastal Mediterranean climate zone, where seasonal rainfall influences leachate generation and groundwater management. The facility is located near the Pacific Ocean, requiring robust leachate containment to protect marine and coastal ecosystems. Landfill gas collection systems are essential to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and to comply with California's stringent air quality regulations. Community proximity and traffic along Highway 101 are key considerations for operational planning.
Frequently asked questions
The landfill is located at 4700 Highway 101, 23 miles west of Santa Barbara, in Gaviota, California, USA.
As a municipal solid waste landfill, it accepts household, commercial, and non-hazardous industrial waste from Santa Barbara County.
The landfill operates under US EPA RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills and California state regulations, including landfill gas and leachate management requirements.
The facility is required to have a landfill gas collection and control system to capture methane, which is either flared or used for energy generation, in compliance with Clean Air Act and California Air Resources Board rules.
The landfill's environmental impact includes potential groundwater contamination from leachate and greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation measures include liners, leachate collection, and gas control systems to protect local ecosystems and comply with regulations.
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