Fine, Sanction in Trash Decree (USA)

The trash hauler for the city of Boston, Waste Management of
Massachusetts,
must pay a $775,000 fine and implement environmental projects worth $2.6
million under a proposed consent decree filed by the federal government
yesterday. Waste Management faces such a stiff sanction because for more
than a year its employees carelessly disposed of coolant chemicals,
including CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydro
chlorofluoro-carbons)
which deplete the Earth's ozone layer, according to the proposed decree,
filed in federal court ... Waste Management crushed appliances collected
in
Boston in trash compactors without first checking to see whether the
chemical refrigerants had been removed, from July 1997 until August
1998,
according to a civil complaint filed yesterday in US District Court ...
Under federal law, the company can be fined up to $27,500 a day for each
violation. Under the proposed consent decree, filed with the complaint,
Waste Management will train its employees in proper handling of
appliances
that may contain refrigerant ...
Article @:
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/114/metro/Fine_sanction_in_trash_decree+.s
html
Source: The Boston Globe 24 April 2002.