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.
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After lawsuits, BKK closes in 1996.
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Though closed, BKK contains over 20 million tons of municipal trash and over 5 million tons of toxic hazardous waste
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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.
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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.
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Making revenue a higher priority than public health is precisely how we ended up with BKK
Location of BKK Landfill
