Protest to Protect Will Rogers Beach
Adjacent to High Density Population - A Looming Environmental and Public Health Disaster
We are profoundly disappointed by the plan to repurpose this invaluable local resource—a sanctuary of tranquility, biodiversity, and recreation for all— into a hazardous waste sorting site. This decision is not only short-sighted but also presents significant risks to public health, our ecosystem, and local economy.
We recognize the extreme devastation the recent fires have caused—homes reduced to ash, businesses lost, and lives upended. The urgency of cleanup is undeniable. But this decision is not a solution—it is a new crisis.Toxic contaminants from the wildfire debris could leach into the soil and waterways.
Onshore winds will carry hazardous particulates, compromising the air quality where people live, work, and play. The risk to our ocean’s health is just as alarming.
This Will Only Cause More Harm to Our Community
Local businesses, already struggling, will suffer further as visitors avoid a town marked by environmental neglect. The economic, environmental, and public safety risks of this plan cannot be ignored.
To store, even temporarily, the remnants of catastrophe at the fragile boundary of land and sea is to invite irreversible damage. Wildfire debris isn’t just ash—it’s poison. Asbestos, heavy metals, dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will not remain contained. Our beaches are already suffering from post-fire trauma, presenting serious risks to public health.
The EPA must have an unwavering focus on preventing additional disaster or damage to our communities and waterways.
Instead of a responsible and strategic approach to hazardous waste disposal, the EPA has chosen expedience over caution, forcing an already struggling community to bear the brunt of yet another disaster.
A single storm or a single misstep, and these toxins will enter the ocean, poisoning marine life, contaminating fisheries, and polluting the air we breathe.
There are alternatives: industrial zones designed for containment, engineered landfills, and environmental scientists who understand the delicate balance of our coastal ecosystems. Or stage the debris in an already burned-out area in the Palisades.
Our Beaches Are Sacred
The beach is one of the few places where all people find sanctuary. To contaminate this shared refuge is to jeopardize the health and well-being of every person who seeks solace at the shore.
This isn’t a question of feasibility or convenience—it’s a question of willingness to act responsibly.
This is not just any stretch of sand. Will Rogers Beach IS a member of our community.
It is where our children have summer camp, families gather together, and friends play sports. The beach is what brought us here, it's WHO we are, it's what we love.
MALIBU SAID NO.
WILL ROGERS SAYS NO TOO.
WE STAND WITH YOU TOPANGA!