A recycling company may have to shell out more than $3.38 million in fines after collecting 186,000 tons of waste without proper certifications, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission announced Tuesday.
Bothell-based DTG Enterprises, Inc., is the largest commercial recycler in the Pacific Northwest, according to a news release. But the commission says DTG violated state law by "engaging in business as a solid waste collection company" without the required certificate from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2023.
The company received a common carrier permit, allowing transport of general commodities using a vehicle, in 2017. However, the permit does not allow for solid waste collection or disposal. Yet from 2020 through 2023, DTG knowingly and illegally collected more than 186,898 tons of waste at sites in Snohomish County, according to the state commission.
Regulators counted 3,389 violations of state law. The commission recommended a fine of $1,000 per violation, or $3.389 million.
"Staff communicated with DTG about the violations with clear instructions on becoming compliant and attached an application for a solid waste certificate," according to the UTC. "The application was not submitted until July 2024."
"Additionally, staff requests that a cease-and-desist order be issued directing DTG to stop any operations that violate (state law), and other relief as appropriate," a news release says.
Residents near Maltby told The Everett Herald about contaminated water, dust, traffic and nearly constant noise coming from another DTG recycling facility, from the time it started operating in early 2023. Despite complaints and citations from the county, the facility operated for months without proper permits.
In September 2024, DTG was forced to scale back operations near Maltby -- limiting the recycler to mineral and wood waste. The company had acquired the site, and its history of violations, from United Recycling, the local newspaper reported.
The commission plans to set a schedule to review the complaint with DTG.
The company did not immediately respond to a reporter's inquiry Tuesday.
Customers can check if their solid waste company's certificate is active by using the UTC's lookup tool. Suspected illegal garbage companies can be reported to [email protected] or 360-522-6121.
DTG operates a recycling facility at Rocky Top in Yakima County.