Lopez Canyon Environmental and Nature Center

Information for locals about the Lopez Canyon Landfill can be found at the Lopez Canyon Community page.
lopez canyon landfill

FACT SHEET

Address: 11950 Lopez Canyon Road Los Angeles, CA 91342 (Lake View Terrace)
Year Opened: 1975
Year Closed: 1996
Property Size: 399 acres
Fill Area: 166 acres
Type of Refuse: Class III (residential, street sweepings, construction and demolition materials)
Total in Place Capacity: 19,200,000 tons or 30,720,000 cubic yards
Average Depth of Fill: 200 feet
Additional Expansion Area: None

Lopez Canyon Landfill closed in 1996, but methane gas continues to be produced from the buried trash that accumulated during 20 years of operation. To control landfill gas emissions and migration off the landfill property and comply with SCAQMD rules and regulations, in 1989, we installed an active gas collection system at the landfill. The gas collection system at Lopez Canyon consists of 450 gas collection wells, several miles of gas collection header line and 7 landfill gas flares. Currently, Lopez Canyon generates an average of 3,400 cubic feet per minute (cfm), (5,000,000 cubic feet per day) of landfill gas.


Converting the landfill gas into reusable energy instead of being wasted by flaring has been a high priority goal of LA Sanitation since the early 1990’s. Following a long journey of innumerable obstacles and delays, our first gas to energy plant was built in 1999. It currently produces 6 MW and serves 4500 homes. Subsequently, we partnered with the City's Department of Water and Power and celebrated the completion of the nation’s largest landfill gas to energy project of its kind. We completed the installation of fifty new gas micro turbines, each the size of a refrigerator that produce a total of 1.5 MW, enough power to serve 1,500 homes. Landfill gas to energy projects such as Lopez Canyon’s is a win-win opportunity for both the City and the community. They generate cost effective renewable energy from landfill gas that is otherwise being wasted by burning and reduce emissions of air pollutants such as methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and generate income to LA Sanitation and the community.

The gas to energy program is widely supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, local regulators, and is very popular with the local community as well.

Because of the hard work and the innovative attitude of the City employees and our private partners and the positive support of the community, our landfill gas to energy program won an award from Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

Learn more about landfill gas-to-energy programs including those implemented at Lopez Canyon Landfill.

For a presentation on the Lopez Canyon Landfill Gas Utilization Project, click here.

Lopez Canyon Landfill 2013 Complete Closure Documents with Certification   

  1. Closure Correspondence

  2. New Correspondence:

    September 14, 2012
    August 28, 2012
    August 28, 2012

    August 10, 2012

    July 18, 2012

    July 16, 2012

    July 5, 2012

    March 13, 2012

    October 31, 2011

    August 8, 2011

    July 11, 2011

    March 1, 2011

     

    Old Correspondence:

    May 25, 2010

    April 1, 2010

    March 5, 2010

    March 4, 2010

    November 10, 2009

    October 30, 2009

    October 9, 2009 #1

    October 9, 2009 #2

    September 14, 2009

    March 11, 2009

    February 17. 2009

    December 31. 2008

    December 8, 2008

    September 2, 2008

    August 8, 2008

    March 26, 2008

    March 13, 2008

    September 10, 2007

    July 5, 2007

    October 5, 2006

    November 20, 1998

    October 22, 1998

    August 5, 1997

    July 31, 1997

    March 12, 1997

    September 19, 1996

    July 15, 1996

    June 14, 1996

      

  3. Final Closure Construction Plan
  4. Partial Closure Plan - Volume 1 of 4

    Partial Closure Plan - Volume 2 of 4

    Partial Closure Plan - Volume 3 of 4

    Partial Closure Plan - Volume 4 of 4 - NOTE

    Amendment to Final Closure Plan - Volume 4 of 4 Replacement

    Amendment to Final Closure Plan - Revision to Volume 4 of 4 Replacement

    Amendment to Final Closure Plan - Revision II to Volume 4 of 4 Replacement

    Amendment to Final Closure Plan - Revision III to Volume 4 of 4 Replacement

    Amendment to Final Closure Plan - Revision IV to Volume 4 of 4 Replacement

    Partial Post-Closure Maintenance Plan - Volume 1 of 2

    Partial Post-Closure Maintenance Plan - Volume 2 of 2

    Amendment to Partial Post-Closure Maintenance Plan - Volume 2 of 2

    Amendment to Partial Post-Closure Maintenance Plan Revision 1 - Volume 2 of 2

    Amendment to Partial Post-Closure Maintenance Plan Revision II - Volume 2 of 2 

     

  5. SRR Report (June 06 2013)
  6. SRR Report - June 6, 2013 

     

  7. SRR Report (May 31 2013)
  8. SRR Report - May 31, 2013

 

Present Use 


A section of the landfill has been dedicated for the Lopez Canyon Environmental Center, where greenwaste is collected and ground into mulch for reuse by L.A. Residents. Refer to Free Mulch - Two Options  section for more information regarding pick-up locations and hours of operation.

 

The new Lopez Canyon Environmental and Education Center is designed to reflect all aspects of production and use of different mulching and composting products. Construction of this Center was completed in March 2015.

Events Calendar
  

Potential Future Use 


The former Lopez Canyon Landfill, a Municipal Solid Waste landfill, ceased to accept waste on July 1st, 1996, and final landfill closure has been completed as of September 2012. While the landfill is zoned 'Open Space' and is ultimately destined to become a community recreation area, state law mandates that a monitoring period of at least thirty years be conducted, during which unsupervised public use of the site must be prohibited. The purpose of this monitoring period is to ensure that gas and liquid (leachate) production by decomposing organic matter is measured and safely disposed of in ways that ensure it will not contaminate groundwater under the site. At the end of this period, if gas and leachate production and subsidence of the site's ground surface have fallen to minimal levels, public recreation and other uses consistent with a zoning designation of 'Open Space' may be initiated.
 

Lopez Canyon Equestrian Trails
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

1. Initial Study

2. Appendices:

3. Mitigated Negative Declaration


Proposed Development Plans (Note: these are preliminary designs) 


Site Analysis

 

Project Phasing Plan

 

Entry and Park Improvement Concept

 

Hiking Trails Concept

Gas Collection System
Gas Collection System

Gas Collection System

Compacting slopes
Compacting slopes

Compacting slopes

Helicopter pad was built on top deck of landfill for Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments
Helicopter pad was built on top deck of landfill for Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments

Helicopter pad was built on top deck of landfill for Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments

LA DWP Microturbine - converting gas into electricity
LA DWP Microturbine - converting gas into electricity

LA DWP Microturbine - converting gas into electricity

Inside Power Plan that convert collected field gas into the energy
Inside Power Plan that convert collected field gas into the energy

Inside Power Plan that convert collected field gas into the energy

Lopez Canyon Environmental Center - Mulching Facility
Lopez Canyon Environmental Center - Mulching Facility

Lopez Canyon Environmental Center - Mulching Facility

Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center
Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center

Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center