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MONTGOMERY COUNTY WASTE HAULER CHARGED WITH NON-DISCLOSURE OF RESTAURANT GREASE AND AUTO SLUDGE

Release Date: 6/15/2000
Contact Information: Donna M. Heron, 215-814-5113

Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

PHILADELPHIA – A Harleysville waste hauler is facing a maximum of five years in jail and a $250,000 fine for allegedly not disclosing that liquid waste brought to the Valley Forge Sewer Authority in Phoenixville for disposal included restaurant grease and sludge from auto repair shops, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today.

This case is part of an on-going initiative by EPA to crack down on waste haulers who violate the Clean Water Act by dumping grease and sludge at municipal sewer treatment plants. This type of waste must be disposed of at specifically designated treatment centers.

Restaurant grease and the petroleum sludge, which results from the waste water used in cleaning up auto repair shops, can clog up the equipment at municipal sewer plants, over-burden the systems and inhibit sewage processing.

Charles J. Perna Jr., 35, of 849 April Hill Way, Harleysville, Pa., was charged June 14 with one count of making false statements to a federal agency. The Information filed Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the EPA, indicated that Perna allegedly collected the grease and petroleum waste from customers and then directed his employees to conceal the grease and oil by diluting and blending it with other liquids.

According to the Information, customers of Perna Sanitary Disposal Service, Collegeville, included the Norristown Area School District, the Perkiomen Valley School District, Eagleville Hospital, Wawa, Inc. Lansdale; Henkels & McCoy, Blue Bell; Conicelli Nissan/Conicelli Toyota/Carriage Trade, Conshohocken; Norristown Ford/Norristown Automobile Company, Norristown; Green Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill; McDonald’s Restaurant, Bala Cynwyd; and Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Bethlehem.

In two other recent cases a father and son were sentenced to prison and their company, Modern Disposal, was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $9,959 in restitution to the City of Philadelphia for dumping restaurant grease waste into the sewer systems of Philadelphia, Doylestown and E. Norriton Township. This case involved the illegal disposal of approximately 570,000 gallons of grease waste between 1992 and 1996.

In May a former plant manager from BFI ‘s Washington, D.C. medical waste treatment facility was put on one year’s probation for illegally discharging industrial wastewater in 1995 and 1996 into a drain leading to the D.C. sewer system.

For complete details a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice is attached.