EPA v. RECYCLE EXCHANGE NORTH

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Recycling Exchange North (REN) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that REN 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 REN, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. The ACO requires REN to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap recycling at its Columbus, Ohio facility. REN's refrigerant recovery program is estimated to recover a minimum of 120 lbs of ozone-depleting refrigerants per year. Since the refrigerants used in small appliances are also 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)

• RECYCLE EXCHANGE NORTHNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• RECYCLE EXCHANGE NORTH

  2830 WESTERVILLE ROAD, COLUMBUS, OH, 43224

  Registry ID: 110043697443

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• RECYCLE EXCHANGE NORTHentered 2011-09-29

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2011-09-29Final Order Issued
• 2011-09-30Enforcement Action Data Entered