On April 8, 2000, Spadra Landfill, located in the City of Pomona, closed to the general public after serving the eastern San Gabriel Valley since 1957. The site normally took in 2500 tons per day (tpd) of refuse but in recent months, as closure approached, was limited to 1500 tpd. In the short term, most of the trash from the surrounding cities will go to the Puente Hills Landfill in Whittier with some going to out of county facilities.

The Spadra Landfill began operations on a 128 acre site formerly known as Smith Ranch. It was operated by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Districts) under a Joint Powers Agreement with the California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Pomona) and the County of Los Angeles. The Districts purchased additional acreage over the years to add to the landfill. In addition to disposal, the Districts implemented various materials recovery programs at the site. These programs recovered 400,000 tons of greenwaste, 475,000 tons of asphalt, 576 tons of metallic discards, 380 tons of tires and 55,000 gallons of oil. The greenwaste and asphalt were beneficially reused at the site.

"In its 43 years of operation, the landfill provided an environmentally sound, cost effective method of disposal for approximately 17 million tons of refuse from the eastern San Gabriel Valley", indicated Charles W. Carry, Chief Engineer and General Manager for the Districts.

In 1985, the Districts entered into the Spadra Landfill and Resource Conservation Agreement with Cal Poly Pomona and the County to create LandLab, a 320 acre center for education and research in the sustainable use of resources while providing for recycling, the diversion of waste materials and the efficient use of refuse capacity. As part of their responsibilities outlined in the 1985 agreement, Cal Poly Pomona prepared a Master Plan which identified the post closure land uses for the site as a combination of education, research, recreation and open spaces.

"Both Cal Poly Pomona and the Districts have benefitted from our relationship in the LandLab project. The land which will become a part of the University will provide extensive opportunities for research and education in the sustainable use of resources", said Ed Barnes, Associate Vice President for Executive Affairs, Office of the President, Cal Poly Pomona. "So far, almost 2000 trees have been planted at the site including 1286 California Black Walnuts, 611 Coast Live Oaks, 186 Western Sycamores and approximately 1800 shrubs of various native species", added Barnes.

"All of the cities around the Spadra Landfill should be so grateful for the leadership shown by Cal Poly Pomona", adds Carry. "Our working relationship with the University gave this area 15 years of landfill life and has been a huge benefit to solid waste management and the local economy, while adding to the University's educational resources".

With the closure of the landfill, the Districts will implement the Closure and Post Closure Plans for the site. The Plans identify a 15-month period, following the receipt of the final load of refuse, that includes the placement of a five foot final cover over the fill, removal of the weigh scales for reuse at other Districts' sites, installation of a landscape and irrigation system over the final side slopes and construction of access roads and drainage facilities. Under the Post Closure Plan, the Districts will also continue to monitor and maintain the environmental controls which include groundwater and surface water monitoring and landfill gas control. Cal Poly Pomona will be responsible for the post closure land development, which initially is for perennial pastures.

The Districts is a group of 25 independent special districts serving the wastewater and solid waste management needs of about 5 million people in Los Angeles County. The Districts' service area includes 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the county. The role of the Districts is to construct, operate, and maintain facilities to collect, treat and dispose of wastewater and to provide for disposal and management of solid wastes. The Directors of the 25 separate districts are the mayors of the cities within a district and the Chairperson of the County Board of Supervisors for unincorporated areas.

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