Allied Waste Subsidiaries Fined $234,500 for Violations

PITTSBURGH -- The Department of Environmental Protection assessed Greenridge Reclamation and Greenridge Waste Services—both located in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, and owned by Allied Waste—$234,500 for violations of Greenridge Reclamation’s municipal waste landfill permit.
The department received a tip in December that waste from containers stored within the landfill permit area was being dumped without first being weighed. DEP’s investigation, which included personnel interviews and an audit of company records, confirmed that the violations occurred between July 1, 2006, and Dec. 15, 2006.

“The state expects municipal waste landfill operators to record collections accurately, and it takes these types of violations seriously,” said Kenneth Bowman, DEP’s southwest regional director. “Accuracy ensures that the landfill does not exceed its daily limits, possibly threatening the environment. It also ensures the commonwealth, county and host municipality receives the revenue each is entitled under the law.”

Greenridge Reclamation was fined $110,000 for allowing containers with waste to be stored on its premises in violation of its permit and for failing to weigh and monitor all incoming solid waste.

Greenridge Waste Services was fined $124,500 for its part in causing or assisting in the landfill violations. It also was penalized for three overweight vehicles and for failing to report a residual waste release during transport immediately after the incident occurred on Nov. 30, 2006.

Only one driver was found to have ignored the policies of both companies requiring the waste to be weighed before dumping. However, management failed to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with those policies.

The exact quantity of waste disposed of could not be determined but is believed to be relatively small. In addition to the penalty, Greenridge agreed to pay $760.47 in delinquent fees to the department, Westmoreland County and East Huntingdon Township to settle the case.

The “tipping” fees collected by the host county and the host municipality pay for a range of community improvements including road maintenance and park upgrades. The state tipping fees fund environmental stewardship programs and municipal recycling grant programs.