Companies hit with severe penalties after authorities make shocking discovery in warehouse: 'Consequences caught up with them'

Two companies in Columbus, Ohio, used to recycle electronic waste. Closed Loop Refining and Recovery, alongside Closed Loop Glass Solutions, had two warehouses full of 150 million pounds of cathode ray tubes hiding away. The two companies went defunct and left the trash behind, Waste Today reported.

What's happening?

The electronics in these warehouses were considered hazardous waste, with chemicals, batteries, wires, and metals in those compact spaces. 

When the businesses stopped operating, the materials remained, and something had to happen to them. The organizations illegally dumped them nearby. Now, after a court ruling, they are paying $3 million. As Ohio Attorney General David Yost said, "The consequences caught up with them."

A cathode ray tube contains a significant amount of lead, which can seep into waterways and soils and cause irreversible damage to plants and animals. Other types of electronic waste, which are also dangerous and toxic, were also present. 

Why is electronic waste dumping important?

Environmental experts analyzed the spaces after they were abandoned and determined they were unsuitable for future recycling operations. One said it was the most hazardous waste he had witnessed in one spot. 

This kind of neglect happens all over the world, signaling a greater environmental problem. Lawsuits and other countermeasures inspire further action and legislative responses to prevent more companies from greenwashing and fooling communities into believing they are sustainable.

Instead, electronics and metals need to be ethically scrapped and recycled. Experts do this by observing characteristics such as the materials' colors and hardness, determining the best avenues for reuse.

What's being done about e-waste?

It took over three years to decontaminate and rehabilitate the sites. The project cost $17 million, demonstrating how expensive these efforts can be. 

Citizens and organizations alike can take a stand. Everyone must remain aware of new research that optimizes e-waste recycling. Innovations can make it easier and cheaper for companies to commit to the process without abandoning thousands of pounds of metals and chemicals in warehouses.

Additionally, concerned consumers can speak with electronics companies and recycling facilities to learn more about their practices. They can vocalize concerns, citing instances such as this one as essential to prevent. Encouraging open discourse about these matters leads to policies, standards, and legislation that fight illegal electronics dumping.

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