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EPA Takes Action Against Owner Of EarthEcycle

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Jun 11, 2009 10:58 pm US/Eastern

EPA Takes Action Against Owner Of EarthEcycle

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― He's accused of scamming local charities by shipping millions of pounds of electronic waste overseas to be recycled, but instead, the stuff ends up in a toxic pit.

Jeff Nixon has defended his actions, but now the EPA has taken action against him.

Abandoned computers, servers, cell phones and other discarded electronics are currently being stored at a Monroeville warehouse.

Jeff Nixon, the owner of EarthEcycling, told KDKA-TV earlier this week his recycling business was on the up and up and allegations that he was improperly dumping toxic waste overseas were patently false.

Sheehan: "They allege that China is a dumping ground and there's provinces in China that become big toxic dumps for all this kind of material."

Nixon: "There are, that's correct and that's a problem."

Sheehan: "Is that where your stuff is going?"

Nixon: "No, it isn't. It's not where my stuff is going."

But late last month, a west coast environmental action group warned Hong Kong officials about Nixon's shipments and Hong Kong sent them back.

And now the EPA has cited Nixon for failing to notify the agency about shipping the waste overseas.

It's also ordered Nixon to safely store the returned material until a hearing can be scheduled.

In a statement, the agency said:

"EPA takes proper and safe management of electronic waste seriously. … EPA continues to investigate EarthEcycle's handling of electronic waste and export practices."

Nixon could not be reached for comment Thursday, but earlier in the week, he defended his practice of shipping the e-waste overseas.

"We've sent it over to China, Africa, Dubai, Albuquerque - everywhere we send it is in good faith – if it's in Pennsylvania or if it's all the across the seas," he said. "The process is the same. We're going to do our due diligence to make sure you're a responsible processor before we sell it."

The waste was collected by the Humane Societies of Westmoreland County and Southwestern Pennsylvania in exchange for a promise of $10,000 per 100,000 pounds.

So far, Westmoreland County has been paid and the kennel on the North Side expects to be paid.

The kennels said they participated in the program on the promise that the waste could be handled responsibly.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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