Arizona Recycler Settles with DEQ, EPA

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Superior Special Services, Phoenix, has agreed to pay $143,000 in fines and $125,000 for an environmental project for multiple state and federal hazardous waste violations.

The company failed to properly categorize, document, label and store hazardous waste and, failed to document training for those handling or supervising the handling of hazardous wastes stored at the facility. Superior provides recycling of fluorescent lighting and ballasts, lamps, transformers, batteries, mercury waste, and PCBs.

"Clearly the facility needed to improve its business practices to lessen the chances of public exposure to hazardous wastes and to protect the environment," said Shannon Davis, director of ADEQ's Waste Programs Division. "The new management has demonstrated its commitment to make the necessary changes and the facility is now complying with regulations."

"Companies that handle hazardous waste need to manage them properly not only to protect the environment, but to ensure public safety," said Jeff Scott, EPA's Waste Management Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. "This facility owned up to these infractions and fixed the problems to comply with the law."

As part of a supplemental environmental project under the state's consent order, Superior will spend $125,000 to collect and dispose of unwanted hazardous chemicals from Phoenix schools. Outdated chemicals, toxic compounds, deteriorated containers, and inadequate ventilation in school laboratories present a potential for explosions, fires and the release of toxic vapors.  The money will go toward helping schools properly dispose of and manage waste from chemistry labs.

Officials discovered the violations during a three-day inspection last April.