SIMI VALLEY, Calif. Debris from the devastating January wildfires in Los Angeles County is continuing to arrive at the Simi Valley Landfill, but federal officials said the cleanup operation is on track to be largely completed by mid-summer.
COL. ERIC SWENSON of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the Simi Valley City Council on May 19 that debris removal efforts are progressing swiftly, with the majority of truck traffic expected to taper off in the coming weeks. The Corps is overseeing debris removal from the fire zones, which include hard-hit areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
“We are going to be substantially complete with this debris by mid-summer,” Swenson said. “If you don’t see it in three weeks, it’ll be mid-summer for sure.”
The cleanup effort follows the Jan. 7 wildfires that tore through neighborhoods, destroyed homes and claimed lives. As part of the recovery operation, non-hazardous debris is being transported to landfills across Southern California, including the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center on Madera Road, which is operated by WM, formerly known as Waste Management.
Residents and city officials have raised concerns over the volume of trucks hauling waste through the city. However, Swenson said the…
