City of Lakewood Illegally Dumping Hazardous Waste into Landfill

[Richard Baker]

When we dropping off 400 pounds of lead paint shavings earlier this month, we were told at the City of Lakewood Division Refuse & Recycling Division, 12920 Berea Rd., Cleveland, OH 4411 to dump them into a garbage truck to be taken to a landfill. We were informed that if hazardous waste is not recyclable it will be taken to the landfill. I mentioned it was lead paint shavings but was instructed to dump them into a landfill garbage truck. They no longer sort hazardous material in the shed, you are instructed into one garbage truck and they take it to the landfill. I have filled a complaint with EPA

[Brian Essi]

People often forget that the EPA was created by a Republican. Republicans are among the fiercest environmentalists.

[cmager]

People often forget that the EPA was created by a Republican. Republicans are among the fiercest environmentalists.

...and ever since, Republicans have attempted to destroy the EPA.

[Richard Baker]

That's a political revelation, Democrats on this blog have also accused the Republicans of closing the hospital so we can assume they also responsible for the city dumping hazardous waste in a regular landfill.

It appears that everybody is ignoring the seriousness of improperly disposing hazardous waste, but since it's not being dumped into Lakewood's backyard speaks for itself. Let's discuss Lakewood hazardous waste policies:
1. The City restricts the method that can be used to remove lead paint from the exterior of homes
2. There is no restriction on methods and the disposal of lead paint removed from the interior of your
home.
3. Removal - we were issued a stop order due to our method of removing the lead paint on the exteriors of
our home. We were using EPA approved equipment unknown to the building department and approved
containment methods
4. Disposal - we have been double bag all the lead paint shavings for proper hazardous waste disposal

Since the City of Lakewood has dumped the 400 pounds of lead paint chips into a regular landfill, why do I have to travel to the Berea Rd facility where I’m directed to dump them in a garbage truck going to the same landfill they take my household trash to?

We are not changing our method of disposing of the lead paint chips. I will document the City’s hazardous waste methods every time I take a load to their facility that appears to be more interested in what is recyclable than how hazardous waste is disposed.

[Richard Baker]

After some research, I located the regulations referencing the disposal of lead paint in landfills. It appears that all the "danger, danger Will Robinson" the city put us through the first time we took the several hundred pounds of lead paint shavings to the City's Berea Rdrecycling facility was not necessary then or now.

"Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices and Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: Disposal of Residential Lead-Based Paint Waste; Direct Final Rule and Proposed Rule

Summary of Rule
In order to help accelerate the pace of lead-based paint removal from residences and thereby reduce exposure to children and adults from the health risks associated with lead, EPA is taking direct final action to revise the definition of "municipal solid waste landfill unit" in both the Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices and the Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. EPA is also adding two new definitions for "construction and demolition (C&D) landfill" and "residential lead-based paint waste." This rule will expressly allow residential lead-based paint waste to be disposed of in construction and demolition landfills by clearly stating that a construction and demolition landfill accepting residential lead-based paint waste, and no other household waste, is not a municipal solid waste landfill unit. Today's action does not prevent a municipal solid waste landfill unit from continuing to receive residential lead-based paint waste."

Once again, the expertise of the City of Lakewood staff has been demonstrated. We are depositing them with our normal trash.