The supervisor also said she has asked the Department of Public Health to explore increase fine amounts on parties that cause environmental and public health disasters. Public health officials have fined Lineage Logistics for pest and other health violations, starting at $500 for each citation, which was raised up to $2,000 per day for ongoing violations at the site.
The department issued a directive to Lineage that requires mitigation efforts in the impacted communities related to the facility and subsequent decaying food waste.
Lineage Logistics on Monday reported it had removed approximately 80% of food waste at the site, with a goal of to complete bulk food removal next week. Company officials said they have prioritized transparency and open communication with the public, providing frequent and bilingual updates via a dedicated website and social media channels, among other methods.
The company said it has provided more than $3.3 million in aid, and has complied with pest and odor control mitigation directives. These efforts consist of odor-control, daily cleaning of runoff collection areas, loading zones, and monitoring of air quality, among other measures. The company said it also expanded its pest-control efforts with support from Orkin to reduce fly and rodent activity.
Of its $3.3 million donation, the company said it contributed $2 million to the California Community Foundation, with funds distributed to more than 20 organizations for air purifiers, personal protective equipment, medical and mental health services, housing assistance, small business support and cash assistance.