Metech seeks to resolve alleged violations at its Gilroy, California, operations

The board of directors of Metech International, a Singapore-based electronics recycling firm, has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Metech Recycling Inc. (MRI), received letter dated May 14 from the Department of Justice for the state of California concerning alleged violations of the Hazardous Waste Control Law, Health & Safety Code Section 25100 et seq. at its facility in Gilroy, California.

The alleged violations include, but are not limited to, the accumulation of universal waste for greater than one year, storage of hazardous waste in excess of the allowable time; failure to maintain the facility to minimize the possibility hazardous waste releases, failure to close containers containing hazardous waste, failure to remove mercury-containing components prior to treatment of universal waste, failure to add value to the closure trust fund within 60 days of the annual change in closure cost estimate, failure to provide annual refresher training to employees who manage universal waste and failure to adequately label hazardous waste and universal waste.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control of California, through the California Attorney General’s Office, invited MRI to a confidential settlement meeting to resolve the enforcement action, which the company has agreed to.