EPA v. TOP METAL BUYERS INC.

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Top Metal Buyers, Inc. (Top Metal) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that Top Metal 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 Top Metal, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Top Metal on March 8, 2013. The ACO requires Top Metal to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap at its East St. Louis, Illinois facility, or to use verification statements or refrigerant recovery contracts. Top Metal'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)

• TOP METAL BUYERS INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• TOP METAL BUYERS INC

  808 WALNUT STREET, EAST SAINT LOUIS, IL, 62201

  Registry ID: 110018219685

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• TOP METAL BUYERS INC.entered 2014-03-30

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2014-03-30Final Order Issued
• 2014-03-31Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2016-01-08Air Resolved