Strategic Materials Inc. to Pay $1.2M Over Alleged Illegal Battery Disposal

SEATTLE (Waste 360): A Sacramento, Calif., glass recycler will pay $1.2 million to settle allegations that its Sacramento facility illegally disposed of more than 500,000 pounds of discarded batteries from homes and businesses, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced on July 30.

A DTSC investigation found that Strategic Materials Inc. had mismanaged batteries mixed in with the glass sorted from curbside recycling, sending the batteries to a municipal landfill instead of managing them as hazardous waste.

“Without exception, all recyclers must follow the law so that we can protect the public and our environment,” said Meredith Williams, acting director of DTSC, in a statement. “This settlement helps ensure hazardous materials are managed properly in California.”

Under the terms of the settlement reached in Sacramento County Superior Court, Strategic Materials will pay $900,000 to DTSC in civil penalties; spend $253,000 to implement more protective measures, including onsite improvements; and provide $47,000 toward a Supplemental Environmental Project to develop hazardous waste training programs related to the proper management of universal waste.

In May 2015, DTSC inspectors went to the recycler’s Sacramento facility to investigate whether it was processing unrecyclable cathode ray tube and other leaded glass as recyclable glass. While they found no evidence of lead-laden glass, they discovered violations related to the disposal of the discarded batteries from the site over the previous five years.

All batteries are considered hazardous waste in California when they are discarded. They must be taken to a universal waste facility or an authorized recycling facility, according to DTSC.

Strategic Materials converts recyclable glass into glass that is ready to be molded into other uses. The company disputes DTSC’s findings but agreed to the settlement, according to a DTSC press release.

Courtesy: https://www.waste360.com