Ohio Landfill To Close After Wastewater Dumping Accusation

STEUBENVILLE, OH — Ohio officials are taking action against a Jefferson County landfill owner who is accused of illegally dumping industrial wastewater. A judge ordered the landfill closed by October 2020.

Joseph Scugoza, who operates Crossridge Landfill, has been ordered multiple times to stop dumping waste and to close his landfill. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Scugoza now faces the possibility of imprisonment and restricted access to his property if he does not comply.

“This guy has no problem trashing the public’s waterways if it saves him a few bucks,” Yost said. “We can’t allow this reckless abuse of the state’s natural resources to continue.”

Yost's office said the Crossridge Landfill has a long history of environmental violations, dating back to 2003. In August, health officials inspected the landfill and found a hose pumping contaminated water, called leachate, into nearby Cross Creek. That creek flows through Mungo Junction and into the Ohio River.

Leachate is an industrial waste which can contain dangerous contaminants.

Scugoza will have to appear in court on October 7 to give an update on his progress in closing the landfill. He is also barred from running his business, Phoenix Off-Road Park, unless he shows that all revenue is spent on environmental compliance.

The Ohio Attorney General's office currently has three ongoing lawsuits against Scugoza. He has been hit with civil penalties totaling more than $24 million.