SACRAMENTO – On April 26, 2017, The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced that the Sacramento County Superior Court entered a judgment against Northstate Recycling, Inc. (Northstate), a metal recycler in Redding, and its owner and operator, William R. Short, for hazardous waste management violations.

The judgment followed an investigation by DTSC’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) which consists of peace officers, scientists, and a computer forensic specialist.

Investigators confirmed that Northstate and its owner violated the law at their scrap metal recycling and shredding facility, including unlawful treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste.  Northstate was illegally shredding, storing and transporting the hazardous waste. If not handled properly, this waste could include unsafe levels of lead, cadmium and zinc.

The defendants were ordered to pay a combined $400,000 in civil penalties. Northstate has ceased metal shredding operations at the facility, but will continue to recycle cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum cans and high value metals among other non-shredding activities.

“The peace officers within DTSC’s Office of Criminal Investigations are working to protect us, by enforcing environmental regulations and protecting the environment,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Discarding or leaving toxic substances to possibly leak into the ground or water can impact our health.”