Lamp Recycler Fined for HazWaste Violations

Waste Management LampTracker Inc. has agreed to pay a $118,800 civil penalty to settle a series of federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) violations of its hazardous waste permit at its permitted Kaiser, Mo., facility, as well as a nearby unpermitted materials staging area.

Waste Management LampTracker, which collects and recycles universal waste lamps, mercury-containing equipment and batteries at its Kaiser facility, was inspected by the EPA in August 2010. The EPA also inspected an unpermitted materials staging area near the company’s Kaiser facility.

After the inspection, EPA’s regional office issued a notice of violation to the company, citing multiple issues with inadequate waste container management, inadequate facility management and failures to comply with universal waste requirements.

Specific violations included a failure to maintain adequate aisle space in storage areas, failures to close and label hazardous waste containers, failure to close universal waste containers, failure to sample crushed glass to test for mercury levels, and issues with employee training documentation, job description documentation and the facility’s emergency contingency plan.

By agreeing to the settlement, Waste Management LampTracker has certified that its Kaiser operations are now in compliance with all requirements of RCRA and its Missouri Hazardous Waste Permit.