Overview
Santa Maria Regional Landfill, owned by the City of Santa Maria, CA, is an operational landfill in Santa Barbara County, California. It has been serving the region since 1955 and is scheduled to close in 2028.
The Santa Maria Regional Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill located at 2065 E. Main Street in Santa Maria, California. Owned and operated by the City of Santa Maria, the facility has been in operation since 1955 and is slated for closure in 2028. It serves the Santa Barbara County region, managing waste from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. As a landfill in California, the facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA's RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills, as well as the Clean Air Act's landfill gas emission guidelines. California also enforces stringent state-level regulations through CalRecycle and local air quality management districts. The landfill likely employs modern liner and leachate collection systems to protect groundwater, and may have gas collection infrastructure to mitigate methane emissions. The Santa Maria Regional Landfill plays a critical role in the region's waste management infrastructure, providing disposal capacity for the growing Santa Maria Valley. Its planned closure in 2028 highlights the need for long-term waste diversion and alternative disposal solutions. The facility's environmental management practices are essential for minimizing impacts on local air quality, groundwater, and nearby communities.
Environmental context
The Santa Maria Regional Landfill is situated in a semi-arid coastal region of California, where groundwater protection is a key concern due to the area's agricultural and urban water demands. Landfill gas, primarily methane, must be managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with Clean Air Act regulations. Leachate management is critical to prevent contamination of underlying aquifers. The facility's proximity to residential areas necessitates careful traffic and odor control measures.
Frequently asked questions
The Santa Maria Regional Landfill is located at 2065 E. Main Street, Santa Maria, California 93454, in Santa Barbara County.
The landfill is currently operational and has been in service since 1955. It is scheduled to close in 2028.
The landfill is owned and operated by the City of Santa Maria, California.
Landfills in California must comply with US EPA RCRA Subtitle D standards for municipal solid waste, the Clean Air Act's landfill gas rules, and state regulations enforced by CalRecycle and local air districts, including requirements for liners, leachate collection, and gas monitoring.
Key environmental concerns include methane emissions from decomposing waste, potential groundwater contamination from leachate, and local impacts such as traffic, odor, and litter. Modern landfills use engineered systems to mitigate these risks.
Other Landfill plants in United States · 6 nearby