Dive Brief:

• The amount of toxic chemicals released across the state of California grew by 50% between 2012 and 2013.
• The higher numbers can be attributed to Clean Harbors Inc.'s Buttonwillow landfill in Kern County, CA.
• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there was a substantial increase in the volume of waste discarded at the site in 2013.

Dive Insight:

The hazardous waste landfill accepted over 11 million pounds of copper and other materials in 2013, six times the amount that was discarded the year before. The large amount of hazardous waste originated from nearby plants that produce sludge, soil and fluids contaminated with copper. 

The EPA tracks industrial facilities that have the potential to pose a risk to human health, and considers a “release” to be when a chemical is released into the air or discarded into a landfill.