MassDEP Issues $45,585 Penalty to Allied Waste Systems Inc. for Solid Waste and Air Quality Violations at Howard Transfer Station in Roxbury
BOSTON MA (12/28/2017) – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Allied Waste Systems, Inc. $45,585 for solid waste violations involving odor complaints at the Howard Transfer Station, located at 66 Norfolk Street in the Roxbury section of Boston. Allied is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc.
Allied’s transfer station accepts municipal solid waste and then ships it in consolidated loads for disposal, under the Republic Services brand name and signage. Republic Services, Inc. is the second largest provider of services in the domestic non-hazardous solid waste industry, as measured by revenue.
MassDEP inspected the Howard facility on five occasions from September 2015 through July 2016 after learning of dozens of odor complaints. MassDEP observed numerous violations at the facility, including storage of waste for more than 24 hours and off-site odor impacts. In addition, the air handling system for the transfer station was functioning intermittently, improperly or not at all with solid waste stockpiled on the tipping floor.
“The facility needs to maintain greater attention to detail as it pertains to air quality and solid waste requirements,” said Susan Ruch, Allied deputy regional director for air and waste at MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. “Facilities with potential to create nuisance impacts on neighbors will be held accountable by MassDEP.”
Under a consent order, Allied is required to submit an application for a permit modification of a large handling facility within 90 days, and agreed to follow the specified interim requirements until MassDEP reviews the application and issues an approval. Allied has a 24/7 telephone odor complaint line (1-480-627-2200) in place to field concerns in this interim period, and is required to report to MassDEP the nature of odor complaints, the status of complaint investigations and the eventual resolutions. Further, Allied will install three new high-speed doors at the facility.
Allied will pay $40,585 of the penalty, with the remaining $5,000 to be suspended provided it complies fully with the terms and all specified regulations until it has obtained a final permit, including the resolution of any appeals to the permit.
CONTACT: Joe Ferson 617-654-6523
MassDEP Issues $45,585 Penalty to Allied Waste Systems Inc. for Solid Waste and Air Quality Violations at Howard Transfer Station in Roxbury
BOSTON MA (12/28/2017) – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Allied Waste Systems, Inc. $45,585 for solid waste violations involving odor complaints at the Howard Transfer Station, located at 66 Norfolk Street in the Roxbury section of Boston. Allied is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc.
Allied’s transfer station accepts municipal solid waste and then ships it in consolidated loads for disposal, under the Republic Services brand name and signage. Republic Services, Inc. is the second largest provider of services in the domestic non-hazardous solid waste industry, as measured by revenue.
MassDEP inspected the Howard facility on five occasions from September 2015 through July 2016 after learning of dozens of odor complaints. MassDEP observed numerous violations at the facility, including storage of waste for more than 24 hours and off-site odor impacts. In addition, the air handling system for the transfer station was functioning intermittently, improperly or not at all with solid waste stockpiled on the tipping floor.
“The facility needs to maintain greater attention to detail as it pertains to air quality and solid waste requirements,” said Susan Ruch, deputy regional director for air and waste at MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. “Facilities with potential to create nuisance impacts on neighbors will be held accountable by MassDEP.”
Under a consent order, Allied is required to submit an application for a permit modification of a large handling facility within 90 days, and agreed to follow the specified interim requirements until MassDEP reviews the application and issues an approval. Allied has a 24/7 telephone odor complaint line (1-480-627-2200) in place to field concerns in this interim period, and is required to report to MassDEP the nature of odor complaints, the status of complaint investigations and the eventual resolutions. Further, Allied will install three new high-speed doors at the facility.
Allied will pay $40,585 of the penalty, with the remaining $5,000 to be suspended provided it complies fully with the terms and all specified regulations until it has obtained a final permit, including the resolution of any appeals to the permit.
CONTACT: Joe Ferson 617-654-6523WAste