EPA takes action against exporters

EPA takes action against exporters

The Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against two companies, alleging that they attempted to export potentially hazardous computer waste in violation of U.S. laws, although the owner of one of the companies denies wrong-doing.

Metro Metals Corp., of Toronto, and Avista Recycling, Inc., of Hopkins, Minnesota, allegedly attempted to illegally export 913 discarded computer monitors to Vietnam for disposal via the Port of Seattle, according to the EPA. The containers were intercepted on December 6th of last year by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents during an inspection.

The agency alleges that the companies violated several federal hazardous waste management requirements including failing to evaluate their waste and identify it as hazardous, failing to comply with pre-transit requirements and failing to declare their intent to the EPA to export the waste to Vietnam. In response, the EPA is seeking a $31,600 penalty against the companies.

"We don't ship illegal stuff. They should go catch someone who is," said Clara Chan, the owner of Metro Metals. Chan insisted she never meant to break any U.S. laws, and thought that she was in compliance by having an import license from Vietnam.

According to Chan, the actions by the EPA have cost her clients, prevented her from making other shipments and generally crippled her business, which she said will close. Additionally, she said she still hasn't been able to access the container that is the cause of the EPA's actions.

"They don't seem to care," she said of the EPA. "They're just causing people to go bankrupt."

Avista Recycling and the EPA did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

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