California Glass Recycling Firm to Pay $1.2 Million for Battery Disposal Violations

Posted on 8/1/2019 by Lauren Scott

A Sacramento-based glass recycler has reached a settlement with California regulators after a State investigation allegedly found the company illegally disposed of over 500,000 pounds of batteries.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) alleges that the company received the batteries mixed in with glass to be recycled but would send the batteries to a local landfill for illegal disposal.

As part of the agreement, the recycling company agrees to pay a $900,000 civil penalty and implement $253,000 in protective measures and on-site improvements. The recycler has also agreed to provide $47,000 to develop hazardous waste training programs as part of a supplemental environmental project.

DTSC says it found evidence of the alleged violations during an unrelated investigation at the facility in May 2015. The agency alleges the violations span as far back as 2010.

Batteries as Universal Waste

All discarded batteries are considered a universal waste under DTSC regulations. Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that primarily come from household products consumers use every day. Universal wastes include fluorescent lamps, non-empty aerosol cans, solar panels (coming soon), and—of course—batteries.

These products are considered universal wastes because they contain hazardous substances, such as mercury, butane, copper, and cadmium, to name a few.

Universal waste cannot be disposed of in household trash or landfills. DTSC requires these substances to be brought to a universal waste facility or disposed of at an authorized recycling facility.

This Fall: CA Hazardous Waste Training Coming to Your City

Join us in September or October when Lion’s California Hazardous Waste Training returns to the Golden State. This two-day workshop will help you meet the State/Federal annual training mandate while getting you up to speed on the critical Title 22 regulations you must know to keep your facility in compliance.

San Diego Sept. 23–24
Los Angeles Sept. 26–27
Bakersfield Sept. 30–Oct. 1
Oakland Oct. 3–4

Tags: battery, CA, California, DTSC, enforcement, EPA, fines, hazardous waste, penalties, RCRA, universal waste, waste

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