The United States has reached a $9.5 million settlement with Stericycle, Inc. over violations of hazardous waste management regulations. This settlement is one of the largest civil penalties for breaches of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and related regulations.
Matthew Podolsky, Attorney for the United States, announced that the lawsuit was filed and settled simultaneously against Stericycle for systemic violations from May 2014 to April 2020. The settlement requires court approval.
"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," said Podolsky. "This penalty should put other waste management firms on notice that we will hold them accountable when they shirk their legal responsibilities and put the public and environment in harm’s way."
Cecil Rodrigues, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, emphasized the importance of compliance: "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 outlines Stericycle's operations until it sold most of its hazardous waste business in April 2020. The company operated numerous facilities but routinely violated RCRA requirements regarding tracking and transportation of hazardous waste.
Stericycle admitted to several failures including not delivering shipments as described on manifests, failing to provide timely documentation to generators, and improperly storing hazardous waste longer than permitted.
Despite selling its hazardous waste business in 2020, Stericycle remains accountable for these past violations.
Podolsky acknowledged EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance for its role in handling this case. The Environmental Protection Unit within the Civil Division is managing the proceedings with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominika Tarczynska and Tomoko Onozawa leading the effort.