EPA v. APEX RECYCLING SERVICES

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Apex Recycling Services (Apex) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that Apex 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 Apex, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Apex on March 1, 2013. The ACO requires Apex to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap at its Fairmont City, Illinois facility, or to use verification statements or refrigerant recovery contracts. Apex'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)

• APEX RECYCLING SERVICESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• APEX RECYCLING SERVICES

  1245 SOUTH 1ST STREET, FAIRMONT CITY, IL, 62201

  Registry ID: 110046594789

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• APEX RECYCLING SERVICESentered 2014-06-12

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-06-12Final Order Issued
• 2014-06-25Enforcement Action Data Entered