Fontana Metal Recycler to Pay $170K in Fines For Alleged Violations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Advanced Steel Recovery, Inc. (ASR), a metal recycling facility in Fontana, will pay $170,000 for multiple alleged violations of California’s Hazardous Waste Laws. The judgment order was issued by the Los Angeles County Superior Court in resolution of the complaint filed by the California Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).

According to the complaint, the metal recycling facility was cited for illegal storage of compressed gas cylinders on site. It also used to accept and store heavy metal-contaminated soil without having proper mechanisms to determine if they are hazardous waste. It was also cited for improper handling of major appliances including those that will fall under the Materials Requiring Special Handling (MRSH), which in turn resulted in release of harmful toxic chemicals.

ASR also failed to provide written certification as a proof that MRSH has been removed from major appliances by certified recycling service provider. Also, the company allegedly transported compressed gas cylinders to unlicensed facility, failing to use a hazardous waste manifest during the transportation process.

The investigation conducted by DTSC authorities had concluded that ASR generated multiple piles of soil contaminated with harmful metals. The soil was found to contain a number of heavy metals including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and zinc, whose levels exceeded regulatory hazardous waste limits as per state regulations. The soil was not stored in a contained manner, as a result of which it posed high risk of the contaminated soil being carried away by wind or dissolved with rain water, thereby causing serious threats to surrounding air and nearby waterways.