Apple settles with EPA regarding hazardous waste management

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with Apple Inc. regarding claims of violations of federal hazardous waste law at its facility in Santa Clara, California.

The EPA says as a result of is action, Apple has addressed hazardous waste management and air emissions issues and has come into compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The company also will pay a penalty of $261,283 to resolve EPA’s claims.

“Hazardous waste regulations serve as critical safeguards for facility workers, communities, and the environment,” says Amy Miller, EPA Pacific Southwest enforcement and compliance assurance division director. “EPA’s actions will protect human health and the environment in the community of Santa Clara from the risk of hazardous waste.”

According to the EPA, the Apple facility generates hazardous waste regulated under RCRA. In August 2023 and January 2024, EPA conducted inspections of the facility after receiving a tip and complaint from the public. During the inspections and reviews of facility records, EPA inspectors identified multiple violations of federal requirements for the management of hazardous waste.

These violations included failure to:

• properly characterize hazardous waste;
• identify land disposal restriction requirements and provide written notification of the restrictions;
• maintain a permit to store hazardous waste for more than 90 days;
• control air emissions from a solvent waste tank;
• properly label and date hazardous waste containers;
• follow hazardous waste container management standards; and
• perform and document daily inspections of hazardous waste tanks.

EPA says that because of its action, Apple updated the characterization and management of solvent waste, installed a device to control air emissions from the solvent tank, and resolved the remaining identified violations.