Integrated Plastics Solutions, a plastics recycling company in El Dorado, Kansas, has been ordered to pay $97,612 in restitution and a $10,000 fine for mishandling waste chemicals after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful storage of a hazardous waste, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
In its plea, the company admitted that from 2009 to July 16, 2013, it knowingly stored hazardous waste, including paints and solvents, without a permit at its El Dorado facility.
The company also must pay a $400 special assessment.
Company co-owners Sean Riley and Brian Riley had previously been ordered to pay $118,807 each to the EPA in restitution.
Sean Riley pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting negligent exposure to a hazardous air pollutant. In his plea, he admitted the company stored hazardous wastes at its facility in the form of paints, solvents and other chemicals. The paints and solvents contained ethylbenzene, which is classified as a hazardous air pollutant.
After becoming aware that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was investigating the company’s waste handling practices, Riley’s brother and business partner, Brian Riley, allowed some paints and solvents to be dumped on the IPS grounds, releasing ethyl benzene and exposing employees to the risk of flash fire and explosion.
Brian Riley pleaded guilty to one count of negligent exposure to a hazardous air pollutant. He was sentenced to three years on probation. Sean Riley was sentenced to 18 months on probation.
