The city of Los Angeles opened the Lopez Canyon Landfill in 1975, in an area bordering the San Fernando Valley communities of Lake View Terrace and Sylmar. The 392-acre site was originally permitted to receive 400 trucks or fewer per day and to mound the trash no more than 1725 feet high. From the beginning, this landfill has been the site of a classic struggle between city landfill needs and those of surrounding homeowners and small businesses. The city was sought to extend the time allowed for the landfill to remain operational; opposing groups have wanted it closed. The has attempted to increase the amount of trash brought to the site, as well as the height of mound produced, while their opponents have sought to reduce or end trash decomposition. Whenever a landfill is proposed, there is a likely "Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)" response. Landfills are not seen as attractive additions to the neighborhood. Neighborhoods are concerned about odors, noises, health hazards, increased traffic, lowered property values, toxic gases and effluents. They have heard of numerous cases in which bad things happened to people living around landfills, particularly in the past, as well as problems that have arisen after landfills have been officially retired. They are skeptical of government's claims that all is well or that the future of the landfill site will not be cause for worry.

Government, too, has cause for concern. Large urban areas, such as Los Angeles, are rapidly running out of landfill space. With an expanding population and no immediate alternatives to landfill deposition, city planners have turned to incineration plans, recycling schemes and even out-of-state dumping. For a multitude of reasons, none of these has provided relief from the pressure to find a place for the huge quantities of material involved. In 1989, over 6,000 tons of trash was thrown away daily. This number has grown the population. In addition, numerous county, state and federal environmental statues must be observed. Large fines and bad publicity attend infractions of these rules. Suitable landfill sites must be geologically appropriate, far enough from communities to avoid NIMBY problems, close enough to be used cost-effectively, far enough from sensitive groundwater supplies, close enough to reduce gasoline consumption (a serious Southland air pollution source), and cable of aesthetic remediation after the landfill closes.

Into this mix of conflicting needs and agendas, the Lopez Canyon Landfill controversy offered a number of opposing groups, each arm with a combination of data that was not always in agreement, some questionable assumptions, and, in almost every case, an incomplete picture of the total situation.

Lopez Canyon is a fascinating case study, combining elements of science, politics, psychology, statistics and good old fashioned oratory.

QUESTION: How does a landfill impact the neighborhood and surrounding ecosystem? Have students draw "before" and "after" Lopez Canyon drawings, labeling changes. They probably should do this before learning about the topic.