State officials are encouraging residents to mind disposal of hazardous wastes following an incident last week where two workers were injured by a cloud of identified gas at the landfill.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation and Community Waste Solutions are urging residents to not toss household hazardous waste into garbage brought to the landfill.
Community Waste Solutions spokesperson Sally Garton said the company notified DEC of the spill when it occurred May 17. In accordance with state protocol, the DEC required CWS to hire an environmental consultant and come up with a cleanup plan, said Bob Mattson, the state’s spill prevention and response on-scene coordinator.
The tests found the area clean of volatile chemicals and Nortech reported its findings back to DEC and Haines Borough officials, who determined the facility was safe to reopen, Mattson said.
Garton said she delayed opening until Tuesday to do some extra cleaning. The company buried all of the garbage exposed to the chemicals in the landfill.
The specific product or products that were run over haven’t been identified but the culprits were likely a can of aerosol bear spray and Cutter insect repellant, Mattson said.
ADEC solid waste program manager Doug Buteyn said hazardous wastes cannot be disposed in the Haines landfill. “If someone is not sure about a particular item, they should keep the item separate from other waste, and ask the landfill staff if it’s acceptable.”
Garton said no pressurized containers or cans that read “caution,” “danger” or “warning” are allowed. The Haines Borough collects household hazardous waste each July.