S H Perlmutter Landfill - San Diego, California Solid Waste Management Facility

S H Perlmutter is an operational landfill located in San Diego, California, United States. It is part of the solid waste management infrastructure serving the San Diego County area, handling municipal solid waste disposal. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA, including RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills and Clean Air Act standards for landfill gas emissions. The landfill is situated adjacent to the Otay Landfill, indicating a cluster of waste management facilities in the region. As a landfill, it manages waste through controlled disposal, with typical infrastructure for leachate collection and gas management to mitigate environmental impacts. California's stringent environmental regulations, including AB 32 and the California Global Warming Solutions Act, further govern landfill operations to reduce methane emissions and promote diversion. This facility plays a key role in San Diego's waste management system, serving the local community by providing disposal capacity. Its location in a densely populated urban area necessitates careful management of traffic, odor, and groundwater protection. The landfill contributes to the region's circular economy goals by potentially capturing landfill gas for energy recovery, aligning with state and federal sustainability targets.

The landfill operates in a semi-arid coastal climate, where groundwater protection is critical due to the proximity to the Otay River watershed. Leachate management systems are essential to prevent contamination of local water resources. Landfill gas collection and control are important to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and to comply with EPA's New Source Performance Standards. Community proximity requires careful monitoring of odors, traffic, and air quality to minimize impacts on nearby residents.