BKK Landfill
BKK begins operating in 1963.
By 1984 explosive levels of landfill gas (methane) and high concentrations of a cancer-causing substance (vinyl chloride) result in the forced evacuation of homes south of the landfill.
After lawsuits, BKK closes in 1996.
Though closed, BKK contains over 20 million tons of municipal trash and over 5 million tons of toxic hazardous waste
According to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, in places what was dumped in the landfill is up to 595 feet deep, the equivalent of a 60-story building.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this is a partial list of the toxic waste in BKK: acids, arsenic, cyanide, lead, mercury, asbestos, chromium, degreasing agents, oil sludge, gasoline, pesticides, vinyl chloride, plating solutions, acetone, heavy metal solutions, pharmaceuticals, hazardous spills cleanups, paint waste, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)s.
For any proposed development at BKK the preservation of public health must be the number one priority. Over 26,000 people live within 1 mile of BKK; over 176,000 people live within 3 miles.
Making revenue a higher priority than public health is precisely how we ended up with BKK
Location of BKK Landfill
