EPA Names Hazardous Waste Violators

The U.S. EPA released a new search engine for the disposal of toxic products. The Web site lists certified disposal companies and facilities with any recent penalties or violations.

Users can find all hazardous waste sites in a county or city, provided there are less than 1,000, or break them down by the amount of waste they are certified to handle.

According to the EPA, Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year. Photo: Flickr/Haukur H.

The reporting covers 23,198 facilities that were active between October 2007 and September 2008. California led the nation with 3,102 active facilities, followed by New York (2,063), Texas (1,781), Ohio (1,653), Pennsylvania (1,287) and Louisiana (1,042).

More than 2,000 facilities had major state violations in the past year, and 293 had major federal violations. Fines totaled to nearly $13 million last year alone. South Dakota was the only state with no facilities suffering violations in 2008.

Violations can stem from improper storage and handling of hazardous products or usage of uncertified haulers to transport waste. While all the facilities listed handle their own waste, others collect from the public, such as auto shops that accept car fluids.

The database also allows users to search for compliance with water and air pollution requirements, to get an idea of the environmental footprint of a facility.

Just a few examples of HHW include used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline and pesticides. The term HHW refers specifically to those products used in and around the common household, not those used for industrial purposes.

The average home alone at any one time can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW – just check in your basement, garage, under the sink and or in storage closets.