Illinois AG Files Complaint Against Recycler

The state of Illinois’ Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, has failed a complaint against St. Louis Auto Shredding, alleging the company allowed open dumping, as well as other environmental violations at its National City, IL auto shredding operation.

The office stated that approximately 175,000 cubic yards and covering several acres − has accumulated at the facility. The attorney general filed the complaint with the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

The complaint alleges that during a 2003 inspection, a site supervisor told an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency inspector that no waste had been removed from the pile since 1997. Comparable in size to more than 4,000 truckloads, Madigan’s complaint maintains the auto fluff is located in an area of the business that is not permitted by the IEPA as a landfill.

St. Louis Auto Shredding, owned by National City Environmental, LLC and National City Recycling, LLC, also shreds household appliances, recycles materials and disposes of waste in an active, permitted landfill onsite. A second landfill ceased accepting waste in 1992.

In addition to open dumping, Madigan’s five-count complaint contains allegations that previous landfill operations, first permitted in the mid-1970s, have allegedly contaminated the groundwater with metals and organic chemicals and that St. Louis Auto Shredding has repeatedly failed to deliver a satisfactory plan to the IEPA to correct the situation and restore the groundwater.

“While it is increasingly important to recycle cars and appliances, it has to be accomplished in a process that conforms to 21st century standards,” Madigan said.

According to Madigan’s complaint, the business has failed to submit to the IEPA a groundwater assessment monitoring plan for its inactive landfill. Additionally, Madigan’s complaint alleges waste disposal and water pollution violations at the company’s active and closed landfills.

Madigan’s complaint seeks a hearing on allegations before the IPCB and an order that the defendants cease from further violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and IPCB rules. The complaint also seeks a civil penalty of $50,000 per violation and an additional penalty of $10,000 for each day the violations continue.