DTSC issues eight violations against Exide's Vernon battery recycling plant

LOS ANGELES (Scrap Monster):  The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued eight violations against Exide Technologies at its battery recycling facility in Vernon, California. The violations were spotted during the inspection held during Jan 20^th to 21^st.

The authorities noted serious violations including unauthorized treatment of contaminated sludge in tanks at site. The inspection officers also found that the company failed to implement sufficient protection against spills from storage area where hazardous battery acid is stored. The Summary of Violations was handed over to Exide on Jan 28^th.

DTSC has asked Exide to take immediate steps to stop all violations. Moreover, the company, within 10 days, has to submit a documentation stating that all violations are attended to. The company is likely to face more enforcement action and potential penalties in it fails to fully comply with the DTSC orders. This is feared to delay Exide’s environment permit application further.

Earlier during March last year, the company was notified by the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for violating standards at its Vernon lead smelter facility. According to the agency, the company had violated the Clean Air Act on not less than 30 occasions. Later, the company had agreed to make enhancements at its Vernon facility as per the new air quality standards announced by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Exide Technologies is one of the major players in the battery recycling industry and had been operating since 1922. The plant has a recycling capacity of around 8 million batteries per annum.