California Garbage Truck Smoke Costs Waste Management $1 Million

Environment News Service (ENS)

California Garbage Truck Smoke Costs Waste Management $1 Million

SACRAMENTO, California, November 20, 2007 (ENS) - Waste Management, the nation's largest trash hauler, has settled with the California Air Resources Board for more than $1 million for failing to properly inspect its diesel truck fleet to assure state emission standards were met.

The waste company settled for air quality violations that occurred in 2004 and 2005 throughout the state.

"Trash pick-up is a critical service, but emissions spewed from uninspected trucks are not something Californians should pay for with their health," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Our enforcement teams will continue to ensure clean air laws are taken seriously."

Waste Management truck plys the streets of a California neighborhood. (Photo courtesy Waste Management)

California's Periodic Smoke Inspection Program, which requires annual smoke opacity tests of vehicle fleets based in California, in conjunction with a roadside smoke inspection program, is used to ensure that all of California's heavy-duty vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free and free from excessive smoke emissions.

In addition to the settlement monies, Waste Management has agreed to comply with the smoke inspection program. The company and will require all fleet staff responsible for compliance with the ARB's regulations to attend classes conducted by the California Council on Diesel Education and Technology. Waste Management must also supply to the Air Resources Board all smoke inspection records for 2007 and the subsequent four years.

All monies are being paid to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which was established to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology.

This fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, uses compliance settlement fees to support various pollution research projects and related programs.

The state has more than 12,000 diesel-fueled commercial and residential solid waste and recycling collection vehicles. Waste collection is a weekly event in most areas, and in some cases, neighborhoods are served by three collection vehicles each week.

Unchecked, emissions from these trucks contribute to toxic diesel particulate matter levels that are a danger to public health, says the ARB, adding diesel emissions contribute to poor air quality throughout the state.

Waste Management is a nationwide, Fortune 200 company.

As part of a new company initiative, announced in October, Waste Management will direct its capital spending of up to $500 million per year over a 10-year period to increase the fuel efficiency of its fleet by 15 percent and reduce fleet emissions by 15 percent by 2020.





3E Company's New Green Product Analyzer Facilitates the Development and Selection of Safer, More Environmentally Friendly Products Wildlife Trust Launches One Health Alliance of South Asia (OHASA) Federal Transportation Bill Should Clean Up Dirtiest, Fastest Growing Transportation Sector: Freight Majority of Registered Hunters in British Columbia Oppose the 'Sport' Hunt iQ Advanced of San Diego announces the launch of HarmfulAdditives.com A Miles-Per-Gallon Rating for Your Home? Get Ready! Conservation Efforts on Navy Installations Recognized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service HOMER Energy Receives Major National Science Foundation Grant Stanford Business School Conference Aims to Advance Socially and Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains Actio and Atrion Introduce REACHtracker 2.0 for Supply Chain Communication and REACH Compliance One "Sport" That Doesn't Deserve A Trophy NESEA Announces Spring Sustainability Workshop Series SEES, Inc. Launches Energy Audit Reports For Contractors Research And Development For Clean Energy Food & Drug Administration Admits Medical Radiation Risks, Ignores Mammography Dangers The 'Sport' That Should Be Banned Hey New York, Are You Ready For The 'Green Wave?' Energy Professionals Organize Statewide Across Missouri New Book Reveals Financial, Ecological and Emotional Value of Green Living Groundbreaking 93-Page CSR Insight Report Just Published On Global Sustainability Regulation, Metrics, and Trends Moving Water Industries Signs Major Contract to Supply Pumps for Red Bluff Pumping Plant and Fish Screen Project Thermphos Taps Atrion International's Product Compliance for SAP EH&S Integration into Business Processes Green Business Bureau Helps Businesses Go Green Walmart Green Business Summit Sees, Inc. Launches Green Energy Talk Directory Navy Marks Environmental Accomplishments for At-Sea Ranges in 2009; More to Come in 2010 Presidential Budget's Proposed $500 Million+ Cut to USDA Conservation Programs Opposed by Conservation Group A Ban on Hormonal Meat is Three Decades Overdue Malaysian Court Halts Borneo Rainforest Village Demolition Driving the Alternative Energy Marketplace at the VERDEXCHANGE Conference Startech Environmental Accepts Investment Closing Date for Early February J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Announces California Sustainable Winegrowing Certification Malaysian Authorities Destroy Borneo Natives' Village Solar Energy and Efficiency Solutions (SEES, Inc.) Launches a Partner Program Final Judgment of Lila York and "Powermaster Environmental Group" An FDA Ban on Genetically-Engineered Milk is Twenty Years Overdue Malaysia and China Sign US$11bn Power Deal That Involves the Displacement of 608,000 Borneo Natives New Ionator EXP� and Ionator HOM� Kill Swine Flu Without Use of Chemicals


License ENS News for websites and newsletters Send a news story to ENS editors Upload environmental news videos Share ENS stories with the world