Facilities Operated Open Dumps of Solid Waste in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County
BALTIMORE, MD (January 24, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, determined to hold entities that violate environmental laws accountable, has filed a civil complaint, on behalf of the Maryland Department of the Environment, against World Recycling Company and three related entities (WRC). The complaint, filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, requests civil penalties and an injunction ordering WRC to clean-up open dumps and accumulated solid waste at two locations in Maryland.
World Recycling Company has been in operation as a recycling sorting and processing facility at locations in Cheverly and Baltimore City since 2014. In 2018, WRC was the subject of a Department of the Environment administrative enforcement action resulting in a Consent Order. Since 2019, after its building in Cheverly was destroyed by fire, WRC has been operating an unpermitted transfer station and open dump in Cheverly in Prince George’s County, storing and dumping roll-off containers of solid waste. Since 2021, WRC has been operating its facility in Baltimore City pursuant to a Solid Waste Permit issued by the Department of the Environment. Since obtaining the permit, WRC has allowed solid waste to accumulate on the property, creating an open dump, a habitat for vermin, and a fire hazard, as well as putting pollutants in a position to contaminate waters of the state.
“World Recycling Company created an environmental hazard by operating open dumps of solid waste, violating Maryland’s environmental laws and, given the locations of the two facilities, disproportionately affecting overburdened communities and communities of color. It needs to be held accountable,” said Attorney General Brown. “We are asking the Court to order WRC to cease violating the law, remedy the disaster they created, and make sure they are fully compliant with the law going forward.”
The complaint requests the Circuit Court to impose civil penalties on WRC for violation of Maryland’s environmental laws and regulations, permit conditions, and the terms of the original Consent Order. The complaint also seeks an injunction to compel WRC to cease open dumping, clean-up both properties of all solid waste, and upgrade its operations to bring them into compliance with State and Federal law.
BALTIMORE, MD (January 24, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, determined to hold entities that violate environmental laws accountable, has filed a civil complaint, on behalf of the Maryland Department of the Environment, against World Recycling Company and three related entities (WRC). The complaint, filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, requests civil penalties and an injunction ordering WRC to clean-up open dumps and accumulated solid waste at two locations in Maryland.
World Recycling Company has been in operation as a recycling sorting and processing facility at locations in Cheverly and Baltimore City since 2014. In 2018, WRC was the subject of a Department of the Environment administrative enforcement action resulting in a Consent Order. Since 2019, after its building in Cheverly was destroyed by fire, WRC has been operating an unpermitted transfer station and open dump in Cheverly in Prince George’s County, storing and dumping roll-off containers of solid waste. Since 2021, WRC has been operating its facility in Baltimore City pursuant to a Solid Waste Permit issued by the Department of the Environment. Since obtaining the permit, WRC has allowed solid waste to accumulate on the property, creating an open dump, a habitat for vermin, and a fire hazard, as well as putting pollutants in a position to contaminate waters of the state.
“World Recycling Company created an environmental hazard by operating open dumps of solid waste, violating Maryland’s environmental laws and, given the locations of the two facilities, disproportionately affecting overburdened communities and communities of color. It needs to be held accountable,” said Attorney General Brown. “We are asking the Court to order WRC to cease violating the law, remedy the disaster they created, and make sure they are fully compliant with the law going forward.”
The complaint requests the Circuit Court to impose civil penalties on WRC for violation of Maryland’s environmental laws and regulations, permit conditions, and the terms of the original Consent Order. The complaint also seeks an injunction to compel WRC to cease open dumping, clean-up both properties of all solid waste, and upgrade its operations to bring them into compliance with State and Federal law.