Chiquita Canyon, Plainly
Where the landfill's elevated temperature event stands — the dates, the orders, and where to file odor complaints.
The Chiquita Canyon landfill in Castaic has had a smoldering chemical reaction underground since around May 2022 — regulators call it an elevated temperature event. It is the source of the odors that Val Verde, Castaic and Hasley Hills have lived with since 2023, and the paperwork around it moves constantly. This page keeps the current state written down in plain language. Last checked June 17, 2026; the linked official pages are always more current than we are.
The underground reaction (the smell)
In force nowBurning underground since approximately May 2022, per EPA; it did not stop when the landfill closed.
A chemical reaction deep in a closed section of the landfill generates extreme heat, gases and large volumes of contaminated liquid (leachate). It is the cause of the persistent odors and the health complaints residents have reported since early 2023. Officials have said reactions like this can continue for years.
EPA's Chiquita Canyon page — the most complete official record