Pennsylvania DEP Orders Cougle’s Recycling to Remove Glass

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has ordered Cougle’s Recycling to remove about 35,000 tons of unprocessed glass from its Hamburg, Pa., facility.

“The stockpiled glass has pushed through the property fence lline and is now on adjoining property,” said Rachel Diamond, the DEP’s Regional Director for the Southecentral Pennsylvania.

The order requires the company to remove the stockpiled glass within three years, begin immediate removal of the waste from the drainage swale and the property line, and maintain 10-foot buffer zones in these areas.

DEP issued a notice of violation to the company in 2002 for stockpiling the unprocessed glass. Follow-up inspections last year in April and October documented continuing violations.

“Cougle’s installed new equipment in August 2003 to remove plastic and metal from the glass cullet, improving the quality of the processed glass,” Diamond said. “The finished product is approved by DEP to be used as filters and in construction of septic systems, anti-skid material, road bedding and embankments, and other uses. This order relates to unprocessed glass.”