Oregon DEQ Fines Computer Recycler

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued $71,962 in penalties against Hightech Now, a computer recycling company, and its president for a series of hazardous waste violations at its facility in Portland. The company suffered a fire in June 2002, resulting in more than 100 tons of toxic hazardous waste (burned computer components) at the property.

The fire destroyed hundreds of computer monitors and computer-related components that were being stored at the site.

Hightech Now and its president, Ryan Henry Kell, leased the building from its owners, The Freeman Group. Kell failed to follow up on hazardous waste determinations after the fire, eventually abandoning the property and forcing the owners to arrange and pay for the proper disposal of about 112 tons of toxic hazardous waste.

Shortly after the fire, DEQ issued Kell a letter advising him to take prompt action to lessen any threat to the environment by determining if wastes generated after the fire were hazardous. DEQ also directed Kell to submit a plan for recycling the damaged components.

Kell contacted DEQ shortly after receiving the letter but made no further contacts with the agency and did not take any action. In September 2002, a consultant for The Freeman Group told DEQ that Kell had abandoned the facility and that The Freeman Group was taking on the responsibility of identifying and properly disposing of wastes generated from the fire.

On Nov. 20, 2003, DEQ issued Kell and Hightech Now Inc. a total of $71,962 in penalties. The majority of the total ($52,385) was for storing hazardous waste at the facility from June 9, 2002 through Oct. 17, 2002 without a hazardous waste storage facility permit. DEQ fined Kell another $9,600 for failing to perform a hazardous waste determination at the facility after the fire occurred, and $9,977 for failing to file a hazardous waste generation report with DEQ.