Radioactive Waste Reaching California Landfills

Lynn Schenkman

San Diego –- Low-levels of radioactive waste are finding their way into San Diego landfills and metal-recycling facilities, according to

KGTV

, the city's

ABC

affiliate. The station has asked the state for a list of companies contributing the waste. California Health Services representatives say the doses of radioactive waste are not harmful enough to require disposal at more expensive, licensed hazardous waste facilities. Although radioactive materials are prohibited from solid waste landfills, a recent

Los Angeles Times

investigation showed that some radioactive waste could be admitted to a landfill because the operators would not know that radioactive material was present.