The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, has ordered Metro Metals Corp., based in Toronto, and Avista Recycling Inc., based in Hopkins, Minn., to properly label and handle electronic scrap that the two companies attempted to export from Minnesota to Vietnam through the Port of Seattle.
The EPA also is seeking a $31,600 penalty against the two companies for violating federal hazardous waste laws.
According to an EPA release, Metro Metals and Avista Recycling Inc. arranged for the export of a shipment of 913 discarded computer monitors to Vietnam on December 6, 2010. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted the shipment, which had been incorrectly identified in shipping paperwork as “scrap plastic,” at the port for inspection before it could leave the United States.
“Companies that collect discarded cathode ray tubes (CRTs) must be held accountable to manage these wastes in compliance with our laws which ensure that they will be properly handled, and not sent abroad to countries that have not agreed to receive waste from the U.S.” says Edward Kowalski, EPA’s director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle in a release.
EPA alleges that the companies violated several federal hazardous waste management requirements designed to ensure the proper management and transport of such wastes. First, the companies failed to evaluate their waste and identify it as hazardous. They also failed to manifest the waste or comply with other pre-transit requirements for such shipments.
The companies also failed to notify EPA of their intent to export the shipment to Vietnam and, consequently, attempted to bypass the process required for Vietnam to consent to receive such materials from the United States before it can leave the country.
The EPA order will automatically become final unless either of the parties requests a hearing on the matter within 30 days.
Discarded CRTs are subject to regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
EPA Orders Two Recyclers to Properly Handle Electronic Scrap
Agency also is seeking a fine of $31,600 against the companies.