Oregon DEQ Fines Electronics Recycler

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued $20,000 in penalties to the electronics recycling company Goldstar Enterprise of Forest Grove, Ore., for hazardous waste storage and financial assurance violations. Until recently, the facility was doing business as MIC Total Recycle. It now operates as MIC Recytech USA.

The facility collects and processes electronic scrap under conditions and regulations outlined in its DEQ-issued material recovery facility permit. According to the DEQ, the permit allows the facility to shred, grind or break cathode ray tube (CRT) glass at the facility as long as the activities are done inside a building and all shredded material is contained within closed, labeled and leak-proof containers. The facility also is allowed to break down computers and shred hard drives. The DEQ says since some of these items contain heavy metals such as barium and lead, that, if not properly recycled, are regulated as hazardous wastes.

The DEQ says because the facility has not sent its shredded materials for recycling as described in its operations plan, it must manage the materials as hazardous waste.

DEQ assessed an $11,300 penalty to the company for storing about 13,200 pounds of hazardous waste at the site for more than 90 days without a hazardous waste storage permit.

DEQ also assessed the facility an additional $8,800 penalty for failing to provide and maintain financial assurance for costs of site closure.

In addition to the penalties, DEQ ordered the facility to remove and properly dispose of the nearly seven tons of shredded and mixed plastics, metals and CRT glass that the company had stored without appropriate permits. DEQ has confirmed that the company followed through on the order and that the material has been transported to Waste Management’s hazardous waste facility in Arlington, Ore., for disposal.

DEQ also has ordered the company to secure financial assurance.