Ohio EPA sets new guides for hazardous waste at dump

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EAST SPARTA – Apparently reacting to the discovery of radioactive iodine in a load of garbage hauled to the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Stark County’s Pike Township last summer, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has announced it is directing Countywide to enhance its screening procedure to identify, isolate and ensure the proper handling of incidental low-level radioactive waste. ..Read more
hazardous waste radioactive waste environmental protection agency countywide radioactive iodine republic services OEPA landfill

Ohio EPA directs Republic Services' Countywide landfill to enhance radioactive waste screening

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The Ohio EPA issued the following press release yesterday regarding radioactive waste procedures at the Countywide landfill in East Sparta (Pike Twp.), Ohio.

Republic Services is one of the world's largest landfill operators, and is the parent corporation of Republic Services of Ohio II, LLC, owner and operator of the controversial Stark County, Ohio, landfill formally known as Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility.

Countywide LF is located at 3619 Gracemont Street SW, East Sparta, Ohio, just north of the Tuscarawas County border. In August 2005, Club 3000 inspectors discovered radioactive Iodine-131 at cell #7 of the Republic Services' site during one of the Ohio toxic landfill watchdog's regular inspections of that Stark County dump. .Read more hazardous waste radioactive waste environmental protection agency countywide radioactive iodine republic services OEPA landfill

American Landfill: Notice of Public Info Session and Public Hearing

The Ohio EPA issued notices yesterday for two Draft Solid Waste and Draft Air Permits to Install ("PTI") regarding Waste Management's American Landfill, located in Waynesburg, Ohio (Stark County). You can review the public notice here.

Wal-Mart admits criminal hazardous waste probe

By Chuck Bartels
AP Business Writer
December 20, 2005

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the target of a criminal investigation over how it handled merchandise that is classified as hazardous waste, the company announced Tuesday.

The world's largest retailer said in a regulatory filing that the investigation centers on the company's transport of hazardous materials from stores in California to a return center in Las Vegas. The company said its practice is to move hazardous materials to return centers, then take the materials to sites approved for hazardous waste disposal. . Read more

Elsewhere in the blogosphere...

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The Peoria Pundit discussed a mountain of documents (sans index) submitted in connection with a pending LF expansion application in Illinois. The Peoria Pundit also wrote yesterday that he has yet to read or hear a convincing argument against expansion -- maybe he would consider news of the recent Dartmouth arsenic study, posted here last week, to be a somewhat convincing factoid against landfill expansion?

Michigan House Dems took some blog-shots today at rivals across the Lansing aisle due to the looming lapse of that state's Canadian trash ban. The aptly named House Rep., Kathy Angerer, fumed about the imminent expiration of the foreign garbage moratorium, "Michigan's glut of landfill space has turned our beautiful state into a trash magnet," she said. Take the trash-o-meter for a spin and stop by the Don't Trash Michigan site to learn more about Canada's newest export. Read more

Texas trash-hauler donates Harley auction proceeds to Katrina Fund

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Houston-based Waste Management, Inc. purchased a Harley-Davidson motorcycle earlier this year featured on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in an online eBay auction for $800,100. The proceeds from Waste Management's purchase were reportedly donated to the Red Cross International Disaster Fund to benefit the victims of the Southeast Asian Tsunami.

The publicly-held trash titan (WMI: NYSE) auctioned off the white Harley on December 10, 2005, reportedly to benefit the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund. The $1 million winning bid was placed by noted Houston lawyer and car enthusiast, John O'Quinn. Read more

Bill Gates holds "big stake" in Republic Services

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Microsoft founder William H. Gates, III is one of Republic Services' largest shareholders, controlling over 18,128,300 shares of common equity (RSG: NYSE) through his privately-held Cascade Investment LLC, according to recent SEC filings. Cascade holds roughly 12 percent of all RSG shares outstanding, with a value in excess of $684 million.

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Republic Services is one of the world's largest landfill operators, and is the parent corporation of Republic Services of Ohio II, LLC, owner and operator of the controversial Stark County, Ohio, landfill known as Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility. Countywide LF is located at 3619 Gracemont Street SW, East Sparta, Ohio, just north of the Tuscarawas County border. .Read more