Pennsylvania DEP settles with Horwith Trucks

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) entered into an agreement with Horwith Trucks Inc., a Northampton-based waste transportation firm, for a $135,000 penalty to address various violations of the state’s Solid Waste Management Act.

DEP inspectors discovered the violations during a routine review of inbound waste receipt records at MAX Environmental Technologies in Yukon, Westmoreland County. Between March 18 and April 15, Horwith transported from New Jersey to Yukon 79 loads of chromium-contaminated hazardous waste soils. At least 65 of the 79 loads were overweight and some significantly so. As a result, Horwith saved a considerable amount of money by not complying with the Vehicle Code and the Solid Waste Management Act’s weight restrictions. All told, Horwith illegally transported about 330,000 lbs. of hazardous waste.

DEP also charged Horwith for using, on seven occasions, two companies not licensed to transport hazardous waste in Pennsylvania. DEP continues to investigate the role MAX Environmental Technologies played in this case.