Detroit Hazardous Waste Site to Pay Nearly $1 Million for Repeated Violations

Due to several violations over the last four years, the owner of a Detroit, Mich. hazardous waste landfill must pay nearly $1 million in penalties.

The facility, EQ Detroit Inc which does business as US Ecology-Detroit South, has received five violations from the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) between 2021 and 2023. These violations stem from problems such as structural damage to waste treatment tanks and drum storage areas, leaks that could have reached below ground level and failure to notify EGLE of said leaks.

US Ecology will pay $927,423 through the consent order and that money will be used to finance an escrow account that will pay for environmental projects, benefiting the community.

"The health and safety of all Michiganders is our top priority," EGLE Director Phil Roos said in a statement.

"This nearly $1 million agreement goes a long way toward ensuring that the people who live in this community feel protected. They deserve to know that facilities handling potentially dangerous wastes in their community are doing so responsibly and in accordance with all rules and laws designed to ensure consistent and thorough safety procedures are followed."

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