The Department of Environmental Protection, partnering with the municipality of Penn Hills, Tuesday cited Monster and Mom and Bobo’s Car Wash LLC, for illegally storing an estimated 50,000 waste tires.
Penn Hills Police discovered the tire dump, which is adjacent to a daycare center. The operators of the tire dump solicited the waste tires from throughout the area.
Penn Hills Police filed summary criminal charges against the owners of Monster and Mom in the Penn Hills District Justice’s Office. After a hearing, the District Justice found Monster and Mom guilty and imposed a fine.
In addition to the Penn Hills Police court action, DEP issued an order requiring the immediate cleanup of the site and the proper recycling or disposal of the tires. An investigation into other incidents of illegal tire dumping at the site is continuing.
Pennsylvania regulations require an operator of a waste aggregation and storage facility to first obtain a permit from the Department. A review of DEP records showed that Monster and Mom does not have a permit to store, collect, process or dispose of waste.
Monster and Mom has a Waste Tire Hauler Authorization which authorizes only the transportation of waste tires from a source to a permitted recycling or disposal facility.
Recently, local environmental officials have noted an increase in the number of illegal tire dumps in Pittsburgh and the southwest region. These tires that should be recycled are dumped over hill sides.
Unlicensed tire transporters and aggregators dump tires on vacant or private properties. These tire dumps are potential fire hazards, scar the land and provide a ready breeding ground for mosquitos during the spring and summer months.
Waste tire sources, like gas stations and tire retailers, have the responsibility of consigning their tires to permitted haulers and disposal facilities. These waste tire generators also must keep records documenting the proper handling of all waste tires.
DEP regulations require that all tires should be sent for recycling or energy recovery. Details of the agency’s waste tire program can be found here.
For more information on waste tires, visit DEP’s Waste Tire Program webpage.
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