Recycler Pays EPA Fine For Wastewater Violation

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that Strategic Materials, a Houston, Texas based glass materials recycling business, has enter into an agreement to pay more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars in fines as a settlement against claims that their recycling practices violated the Clean Water Act and federal environmental regulations.

Due to the nature of the regulations which has been disregarded, the EPA charged Strategic Materials with the maximum penalty of one hundred seventy eight thousand dollars. During the settlement process, the charges were dropped by twenty thousand dollars.

The glass recycler was charged will allowing its facility in Franklin, Massachusetts to release polluted stormwater into nearby waters. The company initially disregarded the ruling to obtain necessary permits for stormwater disposal and once permits were secured, disposed of waste water in a manner clearly in violation of federal and state policies. The facility was also charged with failure to conduct routine inspections and establish measures for controlling waste.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Sometimes it might seem like it’s easier to ignore certain laws but in the end it’s always best to make sure your business is on the right side. When you get caught breaking environmental laws you face fines, penalties  lots of bad publicity, and in some cases even jail time! It’s just not worth it.