Crescent Builders of Shrewsbury Penalized for Solid Waste Violations

Crescent Builders of Shrewsbury was handed an $8,000 penalty by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for burying solid waste at 223 Prescott St. in West Boylston, where single-family homes were under construction.

According to a release from the MassDEP, Crescent Builders had not obtained a site assignment from the West Boylston Board of Health or a permit from MassDEP to operate as a solid waste facility at that location.

On Aug. 5, 2015, a MassDEP inspector responded to a complaint that solid waste had been buried at the site. The inspector spotted the “suspect area” and on Aug. 15 and Oct. 20, Crescent Builders dug up that area under the direction of the MassDEP. It revealed fill-soil mixed with solid wastes such as concrete blocks, tree stumps, wood demolition and architectural debris, and it was subsequently disposed of properly.

In a recent consent order, Crescent Builders agreed to pay the penalty and comply with appropriate regulations going forward.

“Business owners must be fully aware of their responsibilities under Commonwealth regulations to obtain appropriate local and state approvals before managing solid wastes” said John Kronopolus, deputy regional director of MassDEP’s Central Regional Office, in a statement. “Failure to do so will result in significant penalty exposure. In this case, the company quickly provided the equipment and an operator to excavate the solid wastes and correct the violation.”