Murky water along the shoreline next to the West Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill.

Landfills & Leachate | Waste Management | Water Pollution

Challenging a $70B Waste Corporation Over Water Pollution

A landfill built on marshland is leaking toxic chemicals into the San Francisco Bay — where people walk, fish, and spend time with their families. Republic Services knows and has the capacity to stop it. But it hasn’t. In response, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) stepped in, suing to force real solutions with legal and financial support from WHEN.

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    • California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

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    Drivers of Outrage

    Opened in 1953, the West Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill (WCCSL) was built on marshland along San Pablo Bay. Today, it is surrounded by water and crossed by the Bay Trail — a public path used daily for recreation. The landfill is owned and operated by Republic Services, Inc., the second-largest waste disposal company in the United States.

    “People around this country should care about this case precisely because we have 10,000 closed landfills across the country, and Republic Services themselves own 125 of [them].”
    Erica Maharg
    Partner, Aqua Terra Aeris (ATA) Law Group and Counsel & Co-Counsel for CSPA

    Sampling indicates the landfill is discharging contaminated liquids — including leachate and stormwater — into groundwater and nearby bay waters. These releases contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds. Long-term exposure to many of these chemicals has been linked to respiratory illness, organ damage, and increased cancer risk.

    Despite documented contamination, Republic Services has not implemented comprehensive corrective measures. The company has relied largely on continued study and incremental responses, rather than fully addressing the source of the pollution.

    • A culvert discharging muddy water beside concrete barriers.

      2,000+

      DAYS DISCHARGING

      Unlawful discharges have allegedly been occurring every day since at least May 2, 2020.

    • A monitoring-station sign on the bay shore under grey skies.

      30+

      HAZARDOUS POLLUTANTS

      Testing detected chemicals including PFAS, arsenic, cyanide, and industrial solvents linked to cancer and other health risks.

    • A field technician in a yellow raincoat sampling water from an outfall pipe.

      +17X

      SAFETY LIMITS

      Monitoring data found 1,4-dioxane levels more than 17x higher than EPA safety limits.

    Funded Action

    The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) has filed suit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA), alleging ongoing violations at the West Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill.

    To pursue this enforcement action effectively, CSPA is raising funds to retain independent experts who can evaluate site conditions, analyze sampling and monitoring data, advise on settlement strategy, and provide expert testimony throughout the litigation.

    The Bigger Picture

    Map of Republic Services landfills across the United States and their notable legal challenges.
    Map of Republic Services landfills across the United States and their notable legal challenges.
    Map of San Francisco Bay neighborhoods around the landfill, shaded by household income, with Superfund and toxic clean-up sites.
    Map of San Francisco Bay neighborhoods around the landfill, shaded by household income, with Superfund and toxic clean-up sites.
    Diagram of the two pathways by which the landfill pollutes: leachate seeping into soil and groundwater, and contaminated stormwater running off into waterways.
    Diagram of the two pathways by which the landfill pollutes: leachate seeping into soil and groundwater, and contaminated stormwater running off into waterways.

    Potential Outcomes

    The lawsuit seeks to require the landfill's owners — including Republic Services, Inc. — to address and eliminate the pollution affecting surrounding groundwater and bay waters, and to protect both the environment and human health.

    CSPA and its experts believe that meaningfully addressing the leachate releases at WCCSL will require significant investment, including increased pumping and treatment of leachate and/or repairs to the landfill cap. In addition, Republic will need to investigate and identify the sources of stormwater contamination on site and either eliminate those sources or implement appropriate treatment or retention measures.

    CSPA’s preference is to resolve these issues through a settlement that achieves these goals. If that is not possible, CSPA will seek a strong court order requiring comprehensive corrective action.

    The four outcomes the lawsuit seeks: stop illegal discharges, fix containment failures, impose civil penalties, and require long-term monitoring.
    What the lawsuit asks the court to require.