Chiquita Canyon is a 639-acre landfill located in Castaic, California, approximately 3 miles west of the Interstate 5 on State Route 126 in the Santa Clarita Valley. It is located in Castaic, California, approximately 3 miles west of the Interstate 5 on State Route 126 in the Santa Clarita Valley. It has been in continuous operation for more than 40 years and is owned and operated by Waste Connect
ions, an integrated solid waste services company. Chiquita Canyon has provided the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding Los Angeles communities with environmentally safe and efficient waste disposal services. Chiquita Canyon only accepts non-hazardous solid waste for disposal. The solid waste received at the site consists of municipal solid waste, residential and commercial waste, including yard waste, Green Waste (for composting or for recycling), clean fill soil and construction/demolition debris. Since it began operating in 1972, Chiquita Canyon has been an active member of the Santa Clarita Valley, participating in community events and contributing to local organizations and programs. Through the Val Verde Community Benefits Funding Committee Chiquita Canyon has been an active supporter of Val Verde civic programs. Chiquita Canyon, like other solid waste landfills, over time generates a greenhouse gas, methane, which can be safely converted into a valuable source of clean energy. Chiquita deploys a gas recovery system to collect methane which is then used to generate electricity for nearly 10,000 homes each year. Chiquita is open 6 days per week beginning at 3 a.m. It is located at 29201 Henry Mayo Dr., Castaic, CA 91384. For more information, please contact (661) 257-3655. Clean Energy Produced at Chiquita Canyon
Chiquita Canyon, like other solid waste landfills, over time generates a greenhouse gas, methane, which can be safely converted into a valuable source of clean energy. Chiquita deploys a gas recovery system to collect methane which is then used to generate clean energy for nearly 10,000 homes each year. The Clean Energy Facility, operated by Ameresco, allows the Chiquita Canyon to operate sustainably using energy generated on-site to power the landfill and then put additional clean energy megawatts on the power grid.
“It’s truly a great story of sustainability and one that serves as a model for other landfills across the country,” said Jim Little, Senior Vice President of Waste Connections. “The ability to take a disposal facility and turn it into a generator of clean energy is truly amazing.”
With the clean energy power plant in operation, Chiquita Canyon is reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 45,000 tons. From the environmental prospective, the annual green benefits expected from the carbon reduction are equivalent to the following:
Planting of 83,191 trees;
Removal of 74,602 automobiles from the road; or
Conservation of 1,044,960 barrels of oil.
