The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on June 17 announced penalties for alleged waste and pollution violations. | JPL Designs/Shutterstock
Oregon regulators levied environmental fines against 20 companies, including a $611,000 penalty against a C&D debris recycling company.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on June 17 announced penalties for alleged waste, air pollution and water pollution violations.
The largest fine went to Columbia Northwest Recycling Inc., doing business as Construction Materials Recycling, which DEQ claims ran a solid waste disposal site without a permit. According to a DEQ notice of violation and order, the fine relates to storage of thousands of tons of contaminated glass and asphalt shingle waste at a site in Cornelius, Ore., about 20 miles west of Portland.
In January, the department issued a $1.3 million fine against an aluminum recycling company, Hydro Extrusion USA, which is owned by Norsk Hydro. That was the largest air quality penalty ever issued by DEQ and second largest penalty overall.
More stories about regulation/oversight
- UN treaty talks extended after usual roadblocks
- Ellen MacArthur report: Less plastic used in 2023
- How Trump administration policies could affect recycling
