Dive Brief:
- On April 30, a federal grand jury indicted Waste Management of Hawaii and two managers on numerous felonies, including violating the Clean Water Act and making false statements to officials, reports Pacific Business News.
- In late 2010, floods hit the area and washed millions of gallons of stormwater carrying medical waste and other garbage to the coast. Waste Management is permitted to deposit stormwater from the landfill into the ocean only if it hasn't been exposed to waste. Federal prosecutors allege that company protection manager Justin Lottig created and turned in false reports claiming that the stormwater had not come into contact with landfill waste.
- According to a statement released by Waste Management, the company maintains there is "no basis" for the charges. The company and its employees are facing a total of 13 counts.
Dive Insight:
If the waste and recycling company is convicted, the fines could reach $500,000 for each count. Lottig is looking at five years for each count and a criminal fine totaling $250,000 for every count if convicted. Waste Management of Hawaii's vice president and general manager, Joseph Whelan, faces a three year prison stay and a criminal fine of $250,000 for each count if convicted.
