The United States has reached a $9.5 million settlement with Stericycle, Inc. for alleged violations of hazardous waste management regulations. The lawsuit, filed and settled simultaneously, accuses Stericycle of systemic breaches of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) from May 2014 to April 2020.
Matthew Podolsky, Attorney for the United States, emphasized the significance of holding Stericycle accountable: “Today, we hold Stericycle responsible for flouting hazardous waste management requirements while operating a nationwide hazardous waste business, and risking significant potential harm to human health and the environment." He further noted that this penalty serves as a warning to other firms in the industry.
Cecil Rodrigues from the EPA highlighted failures on Stericycle's part: “Stericycle repeatedly failed to ensure the proper transport, management, and storage of hazardous waste – a job that they were paid to do and entrusted to perform on behalf of customers nationwide."
The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court details numerous infractions by Stericycle during its operation as a hazardous waste transporter. These include losing track of waste shipments, failing to use required manifests, storing waste beyond permitted timeframes, and not submitting necessary documentation timely.
Despite selling its hazardous waste business in April 2020, Stericycle admitted responsibility for these violations before the sale. The company acknowledged multiple instances where it did not comply with RCRA requirements regarding transportation and documentation of hazardous wastes.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominika Tarczynska and Tomoko Onozawa are managing this case under the Environmental Protection Unit's oversight.