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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Pioneer Mike II dedication Saturday ... Transient who made racist comments known to Ashland police ... 18 students fraudulently earned certification at Abdill ... Pioneer Mike II dedication Saturday ... Transient who made racist comments known to Ashland police ... 18 students fraudulently earned certification at Abdill ... Company fined $24,000 for trashing tainted bulbs Oregon health officials announced this week they had fined a California-based company $24,000 for illegally dumping 8,000 pounds of mercury-contaminated fluorescent bulbs at Rogue Disposal and Recycling Transfer Station. By Damian Mann MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Posted Nov. 14, 2008 @ 12:01 am By Damian Mann Posted Nov. 14, 2008 @ 12:01 am PROPER DISPOSAL --> OF FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS Homeowners may recycle their fluorescent tubes and compact bulbs at Allied Environmental Services, 8266 13th St., White City. Cost is 25 cents per foot for tubes, $1 e... » Read more X PROPER DISPOSAL OF FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS Homeowners may recycle their fluorescent tubes and compact bulbs at Allied Environmental Services, 8266 13th St., White City. Cost is 25 cents per foot for tubes, $1 each for compact bulbs. For more information, call 826-2773. » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Oregon health officials announced this week they had fined a California-based company $24,000 for illegally dumping 8,000 pounds of mercury-contaminated fluorescent bulbs at Rogue Disposal and Recycling Transfer Station. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found that American Salvage Inc. improperly disposed of the bulbs on Oct. 25, 2007. In spring 2008, American Salvage recycled another 2,500 pounds of crushed lamps at Arizona-based Earth Protection Services Inc. rather than treating them as hazardous waste as directed by DEQ. Workers at Rogue Disposal could have been exposed to mercury dust from crushed lamps, which can permanently harm fetal and child development and can damage the brain, kidneys and lungs, the DEQ investigation found. Rogue Disposal spent about $13,000 to properly dispose of the bulbs once officials there became aware of the problem, according to the DEQ investigation. As part of the civil penalty against American Salvage, imposed last month, the DEQ noted that an oil spill wasn't cleaned up in a timely manner at the Avenue G facility. American Salvage, which has appealed the penalty, had leased the property at 2727 Avenue G to American Appliance Recyclers, which went out of business. Howard Kimmel, president of American Salvage, said his company has paid in excess of $40,000 cleaning up the inherited waste. "We got stuck with that mess," he said. "It's a real can of worms." He said his company was unaware that it couldn't haul the fluorescent bulbs to Rogue Disposal. He said workers at the transfer station helped unload the lamps. Kimmel said some confusion has resulted from American Salvage and American Appliance Recyclers sharing similar names. "It doesn't pay to be an American sometimes," he said. American Salvage used to be in the bottle and can recycling business, but Kimmel said the company now just handles properties. In November 2007, a company from the Bay Area, ECS Regenysys, hauled away an estimated 300,000 pounds of computers, printers and other electronic devices left behind by American Recycling. In addition, American Salvage hauled away the fluorescent lamps and other items left by the recycling company. "We didn't generate it," he said. "We had nothing to do with it." American Salvage spent two months evicting American Recycling from the premises, said Kimmel. After the company was evicted, American Salvage cleaned up the oil spill, said Kimmel. He said it is unfair that his company gets stuck with not only the mess, but also the DEQ fine and unwanted notoriety. "We've already been tried and convicted before we've even gone to a judge," he said. Sarah Wheeler, environmental law specialist with DEQ, said that once the fluorescent lamps are crushed, the mercury is released into the environment and they are considered hazardous waste. On Oct. 25, 2007, Rogue Disposal turned away a second load of fluorescent lamps brought from the Avenue G facility. On the same day, DEQ staff observed workers at the Avenue G facility breaking fluorescent lamps. A letter from the DEQ on April 7, 2008, instructed American Salvage to dispose of all crushed fluorescent bulbs. Wheeler said the DEQ doesn't have any evidence that American Salvage intentionally knew it was illegal to take the lamps to Rogue Disposal, which doesn't have a permit to handle hazardous waste. She said the fine is directed to American Salvage because it is the owner of the property. Wheeler said the DEQ and American Salvage are attempting to work out a settlement over the fine. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or [email protected]. By Damian Mann MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Posted Nov. 14, 2008 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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