Richmond company fined $70,000 for handling asbestos
Richmond-based Mr. Bin Disposal Ltd. has been fined $70,000 for illegally accepting and storing asbestos on Mitchell Island, according to a Metro Vancouver new release Wednesday.
The company was licensed to accept municipal solid waste and recyclable materials, not asbestos, a hazardous waste, according to a statement of facts filed in a B.C. court.
In September 2011 a Metro Vancouver enforcement officer inspected the Mr. Bin Disposal facility, at 11611 Twigg Pl.
The officer saw a pile of double-bagged materials piled on the paved yard, an outside area where waste was not supposed to be stored.
The officer found about 60 cubic metres of bagged materials, marked “waste asbestos.” Some of the bags were not closed, others had holes or tears. No one at the Mr. Bin Disposal facility was wearing personal protection equipment, the officer noted.
Asbestos poses health risks when fibres are in the air.
On Dec. 21, 2012, Mr. Bin Disposal pleaded guilty to three charges or violations of a regional district licence: accepting hazardous waste; managing materials outside of a building; and exceeding the allowable quantity of municipal solid waste.
Provincial court Judge Ronald Fratkin ordered Mr. Bin Disposal to pay total fines of $70,000, in 16 monthly installments, to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District by April 21, 2014.
The company has until January 18, 2013 to remove the excess waste off site. The asbestos waste is to be disposed of at an authorized facility.
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