MARLBOROUGH – Waste Management is facing a fine after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) said it violated a series of waste regulations at its transfer station on Route 20 in Marlborough.
MassDEP announced this action on Wednesday, leveling a $7,373 penalty.
In a statement, MassDEP said Waste Management “allowed the operator of its solid waste transfer station in Marlborough to transport drums of waste oil and waste coolant to Waste Management’s landfill in the Town of Westminster for disposal.”
The Westminster site is not an approved destination for such wastes, according to MassDEP.
The hauler that transported this waste oil was also reportedly not licensed to do so.
MassDEP continued, adding that Waste Management had not submitted a five-year solid waste transfer station certification for its Marlborough site.
MassDEP Central Regional Office Director Mary Jude Pigsley explained on Wednesday that Waste Management had contacted officials after identifying and intercepting oil and coolant improperly shipped to its landfill.
In addition to its monetary penalty, a settlement now calls on Waste Management to “submit a plan to manage waste oil and other materials incidentally received at the Marlborough transfer station other than by transporting such materials to its Westminster landfill.”
“Companies in the solid waste handling business must be diligent about identifying and properly managing waste liquids, particularly waste oil, in order to minimize exposure to the public health and the environment,” Pigsley said.
This took place at Waste Management’s transfer station at 791 Boston Post Road. That site sits across Route 20 from Marlborough’s public drop-off facility.
Waste Management representatives were unavailable for comment as of publication.
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