Cleanup of illegal C&D recycling site completed after eight months

The cleanup of a former east Cleveland, Ohio, construction and demolition (C&D) recycling site turned illegal dumping ground has been completed, according to a release from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The six-acre dump site was purchased by Arco recycling in 2015 from the city of east Cleveland. The site was to be used to recycle C&D debris, such as concrete, wood and metal. However, residents began to issue complaints starting in 2016, claiming that illegal debris in the dump was causing health issues for neighboring citizens.

Subsequent inspections of the site found refuse piled four stories high, and little of the on-site materials showed signs of being recycled.

The pile of more than 300,000 cubic yards of illegally disposed C&D debris was removed following an eight-month cleanup period. The more than $8.8 million cleanup was paid for by Ohio EPA and done in cooperation with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the city of east Cleveland, the Cleveland Division of Air Quality and the Cuyahoga County Executive’s Office.

“I want to thank all of our local and state partners who helped us protect east Cleveland residents by eliminating this illegal dump,” Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler says.

Activity continues at the site as the contractor wraps up housekeeping activities that will ensure the property is cleaned to its preexisting condition.

Ohio EPA will work to recover the costs to clean up this site from the parties responsible. In addition, the agency says it is looking forward to talking with the community and elected officials about future options for this property.