Glen Burnie Man Pleads Guilty To Improperly Disposing Of Waste

GLEN BURNIE, MD — A Glen Burnie man has pleaded guilty to violating Maryland's environmental laws for illegally disposing of controlled hazardous waste. PH Company, Inc. d/b/a Gleamol Cleaning and its co-owner/manager Patrick A. Haddad also pleaded guilty to the discharge of a pollutant to waters of the state in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Prior to sentencing, the company provided proof of compliance with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws as well as written policies, signed by employees, for the lawful disposal of waste. The judge presiding over the case ordered the company to pay a fine of $60,000, suspending all but $25,000, payable to the Maryland Hazardous Substance Control Fund, and five years probation. Haddad was sentenced to one year of incarceration, suspended, a fine of $20,000, suspended, and three years probation.

On July 4, 2018, a citizen driving on Connelley Drive in Hanover observed what was later determined to be two employees of PH Company, Inc., pouring gallon containers of liquid into a storm drain. The citizen confronted the individuals and they stopped, but 30 minutes later the same citizen saw the same individuals dumping liquid onto the pavement from a loading dock at 7513 Connelley Drive and washing the fluid into the storm drain.

Maryland Department of the Environment’s Emergency Response Division responded to the location as well as Chief Investigator Thomas Waugh of the Maryland Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit. Waugh determined that the employees were dumping off-specification grill and oven cleaner into the storm drains. Due to the extreme corrosivity of the waste, it is categorized as a controlled hazardous substance and must be disposed of with a licensed transporter and taken to a licensed facility, with cradle-to-grave record keeping throughout the process.

Haddad responded to the location and stated that he ordered his employees to dispose of the off-specification waste in order to reuse the bottles. It is estimated that up to 100 gallons of waste was poured into the drain. PH Company, Inc. contacted an environmental remediation company that responded to the scene that day and completed the cleanup of the parking lot and drain.