DEP inspects southwestern Pa. trash trucks
PITTSBURGH – As part of an ongoing statewide effort to ensure trash haulers comply with environmental and highway safety laws, inspections by the state Department of Environmental Protection found 151 environmental violations on 94 of 649 trash trucks using seven landfills in southwestern Pennsylvania last week, including one landfill in Fayette County. “Our goal is to make sure that waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner, and that haulers use the greatest care to ensure safety on our highways,” said DEP Southwest Regional Director Ken Bowman.
All of the violations were against haulers, not the landfills.
According to the DEP, the inspections took place at Onyx landfill in German Township; Valley landfill in Penn Township and Sanitary landfill in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County; BFI Imperial in Findlay Township and Monroeville landfill in Monroeville, Allegheny County; Arden landfill in Chartiers Township, Washington County; and Laurel Highlands landfill in Jackson Township, Cambria County.
Trash haulers must get authorization from DEP through Act 90, the state’s Waste Transportation Safety Act, to haul trash in Pennsylvania. DEP inspectors look at compliance history, and if outstanding violations exist or there is an inability to comply with Act 90 regulations, the state can revoke authorization.
In addition to checking the Act 90 authorization, DEP inspectors also look for fire extinguisher and sign violations; drivers not properly managing waste during transportation; leaking loads; improper covers over the waste; trucks that are overweight or otherwise overloaded; and log book or record-keeping violations.
Nine trucks did not have valid written Act 90 authorizations.
The DEP issued 58 summary citations, 42 field notices of violation and 27 written warnings. Violations included problems with signs, leaks, waste containment and vehicle waste enclosures. A single vehicle may have more than one violation.
For more information, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us
, and perform a search using the keywords: “Trash Trucks.”