Hacienda Heights : Dump Closure Bill Offered

State Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) has introduced a bill to force closure of dumps near residential areas within five years, and to prohibit the construction of homes within two miles of any dump in an unpopulated area.

Campbell said his legislation would encourage steps to find alternative means of waste disposal, such as waste-to-energy plants and composting facilities. Developing suitable waste disposal facilities will be difficult, he said, but “the first step we must take in this regard is to stop the primitively ridiculous process of dumping (garbage) near people’s homes.”

The BKK landfill in West Covina and the Puente Hills landfill near Hacienda Heights are among the dumps that would be closed in five years under Campbell’s bill, which aides said is certain to face strong opposition.