Old Mt Shasta Landfill - Yreka, California Solid Waste Management Facility

Old Mt Shasta is a landfill facility located in Yreka, California, within Siskiyou County. The facility is operational and manages solid waste for the surrounding region, playing a key role in local waste disposal infrastructure. As a landfill in the United States, Old Mt Shasta operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills. California also enforces state-specific regulations that address landfill gas management, leachate control, and groundwater monitoring to minimize environmental impacts. The facility's location in a rural area of Northern California means it serves a relatively small population, but its operations are critical for managing waste in a region where alternative disposal options may be limited. Proper landfill management helps reduce methane emissions and protects local groundwater resources.

Landfills like Old Mt Shasta must manage landfill gas, primarily methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Gas collection systems are often required to capture and flare or utilize methane. Leachate, the liquid that percolates through waste, must be collected and treated to prevent groundwater contamination. The facility's proximity to the Klamath River watershed underscores the importance of robust environmental controls to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.