Fossils at Simi Valley Landfill

The rocks underlying the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center have yielded some of the most important vertebrate fossils in North America. For over 20 years, Waste Management has supported scientific investigations at the landfill. Paleontologists, including some from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, have worked closely with the landfill to recover fossils.

Scientists working on the Waste Management Simi Valley property have collected fossil bones and teeth of more than 130 extinct animals. These extinct animals include fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodiles, birds and many large animals like rhinoceroses and camels. The investigations have also led to the discovery of six totally new animal species, as well as other animals that were not known before.

Due to the foresight and continued dedication of landfill employees and Waste Management, the fossil history of the Simi Valley has become one of the best known in North America, and a standard of comparison for paleontology students and researchers.