MEADVILLE — As part of an ongoing statewide effort to ensure trash haulers are complying with environmental and highway safety laws, Department of Environmental Protection inspectors have found 24 violations during an inspection of more than 200 trash trucks using three landfills in northwestern Pennsylvania this week.
“These laws are designed to keep people safe and the environment clean,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “Regular inspections ensure waste is managed properly and haulers operate responsibly.”
The inspections took place at McKean County Landfill in Sergeant Township, McKean County; Greentree Landfill in Fox Township, Elk County; and County Landfill in Paint Township, Clarion County.
All of the violations were against haulers, not the landfills.
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.
DEP issued 13 notices of violation for leaking loads, improper signage, overweight vehicles, lack of fire extinguishers, waste containment and vehicle enclosure issues. Four trucks did not have valid written Act 90 authorizations.
A single vehicle may have more than one violation.
