EPA v. AUTO & SCRAP RECYCLERS

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Auto & Scrap Recyclers to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). On December 3, 2008, EPA issued to Auto & Scrap a Finding of Violation (FOV) pertaining to its scrap metal recycling facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The FOV alleged that Auto & Scrap accepted for recycling small appliances such as refrigerators and room air conditioners that contained or once contained ozone-depleting refrigerants, without either recovering the refrigerant from the appliances or verifying that the refrigerant had been properly recovered prior to sale to Auto & Scrap, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. The ACO requires Auto & Scrap to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap recycling at its Milwaukee facility. Auto & Scrap's refrigerant recovery program is estimated to recover approximately 120 lbs of ozone-depleting refrigerants per year. Since the refrigerants used in small appliances also are potent global-warming gases, these resolutions will, in addition to protecting the ozone layer, have the added benefit of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases equivalent to removing approximately 60 SUVs from the road for a year.

Defendants (1)

• AUTO & SCRAP RECYCLERSNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• AUTO & SCRAP RECYCLER

  3800 W. MILL ROAD, MILWAUKEE, WI, 53209

  Registry ID: 110037231830

• AUTO & SCRAP RECYCLER

  3800 W. MILL ROAD, MILWAUKEE, WI, 53209

  Registry ID: 110037231830

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AUTO & SCRAP RECYCLERSentered 2009-08-03

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2009-08-03Final Order Issued
• 2009-08-05Enforcement Action Data Entered