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After
investigating illegal dumping of materials taken from a contractor and
Craigslist responders, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) advises companies
and consumers to make sure waste handlers are legitimate.
Hoaglund
Properties of Dodge Center in southeastern Minnesota is a contractor that
cleans out waste from foreclosed properties. While working for Hoaglund, Brent
Diderrich of Wanamingo accepted waste materials for disposal and recycling. Hoaglund
Properties and Diderrich will now split a $15,000 penalty (each paying $7,500)
for several violations of state rules regulating solid waste and hazardous
materials. In addition, Diderrich has agreed to clean up his property, where he
disposed of materials, and to comply with state rules, including not accepting
waste from others and not burning used oil.
The illegal
dumping came to the attention of Goodhue County, which contacted the MPCA for
assistance. During a January 2013 inspection of the Diderrich property along
Goodhue County Highway 57, the county and MPCA found about 500 cubic yards of
municipal solid waste, an amount that would fill about 50 dump trucks. Inspectors
also found 250 waste tires; 100 waste electronic devices, such as televisions;
and 20 cubic yards of potentially hazardous waste, such as paint thinner. In
addition, they found areas where garbage and hazardous waste had been burned,
unlicensed appliance processing, and several open containers of used oil stored
on bare ground.
According to Diderrich,
about 90 percent of the waste came from Hoaglund Properties and the rest from
an ad he posted on Craigslist.
The hauling,
dumping and burning of waste violated several state rules that require permits
to ensure the proper handling and disposal of waste; rules designed to protect
air quality; rules designed to prevent the release of hazardous materials, such
as oil and heavy metals, to the environment; and rules that set standards for
storing and burning used oil.
The penalty and cleanup are part of
stipulation agreement between the regulated parties and the MPCA. This type of
agreement is one of the tools the agency uses to achieve compliance with
environmental laws. When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how
seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it was a first-time
or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate
authorities. The agency also attempts to recover the calculated economic
benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
Under
Minnesota rules, property owners and occupants – whether business, residential
or government – have a duty to dispose of waste only though authorized
facilities. Waste haulers and recyclers need to be licensed by the cities or counties
where they operate. Disposal facilities need the appropriate permits to ensure
compliance with state rules designed to protect the environment.
To make sure
waste haulers and recyclers have the appropriate licenses and permits,
companies and consumer should contact their county environmental services
departments.
For household
hazardous waste, the MPCA offers guidance, including disposal sites by county,
on its website: go to the MPCA’s Household
hazardous waste webpage
(http://www.pca.state.mn.us/jsri56b).
For recycling
guidelines and locations, check out http://recyclemoreminnesota.org/where/.
For
electronic trash (e-waste), the MPCA offers information on its E-waste (electronic trash) webpage (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/nwqh580), including a list of registered
collectors.
Broadcast version
After investigating
illegal dumping of materials taken from a contractor and Craigslist responders,
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advises companies and consumers to make
sure waste handlers are legitimate.
The illegal
dumping took place in Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota. While working
for Hoaglund Properties, which cleans out foreclosed properties, Brent
Diderrich of Wanamingo accepted waste materials for disposal and recycling. He
also took waste from people responding to his ad on Craiglist. Now Hoaglund
Properties and Diderrich will split a 15-thousand-dollar penalty for violating
several state rules designed to protect the environment.
In addition,
Diderrich must clean up his property along Goodhue County Highway 57. State and
county inspectors found enough dumped materials there to fill 50 dump trucks.
To make sure
your waste handlers have the right permits and licenses, check with your county
environmental services department. Also check the M-P-C-A website at www.pca.state.mn.us for more information.
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The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864
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