New Jersey recyclers charged for illegally storing waste

A multiagency investigation in Jersey City, New Jersey, resulted in Reliable Group LLC and Pace Glass Inc. being cited with 35 code violations and criminal charges after it was determined the recyclers were illegally storing waste at a Jersey City facility, nj.com reports.

According to nj.com, garbage was piled up to 40 feet high in some places, enough for neighboring residents to see. Additionally, some of the waste containers were degraded to the point that the waste was exposed to the elements and deemed a threat to the surrounding community.

James Boor, the city’s director of environmental health, declared a public health emergency July 9 after nearby residents complained of breathing problems and the inability to sit outside due to odors and dust emitted from the site.

Jersey City Chief Prosecutor Jake Hudnut filed charges against executives at both Reliable Group and Pace Glass. Reliable President Leonard Pirrello, Pace COO George Mahoney, Pace CEO George Valiotis, and Pace owner Vincent Pace are each facing at least one count of maintaining a nuisance.

“These defendants have shown a complete disregard toward the quality of life, health and safety of the residents that live beside this illegal dumping site,” Hudnut said. “The residents turned to their local representatives and to city offices for help; we’ve answered the call with this investigation and these charges. The defendants will be held accountable and their unsafe operations must stop.”

The code violations can carry a penalty up to $2,000 a day, and the criminal nuisance charges are punishable by up to six months in jail for each offense.