E-Waste Remediation at Former Recycling Facility

Challenge

Tatooine Industries, a former e-waste recycling facility in Wyoming, operated from 2010 to 2014, when it was abandoned by the owner and subsequently shut down. This resulted in over a million pounds of discarded electronics and leaded glass, some of which had been from Wyoming municipalities, state government entities and schools that paid to have their e-waste recycled at the facility. The blighted property quickly posed risks to the surrounding community, including safety concerns, fire damage, illicit operations and illegal dumping.

Solutions

TRC worked closely with a new property owner who was motivated to improve the property and community. TRC led the investigation, remediation/clean up and collaborative management of the regulatory process for the former Tatooine Industries facility.

Our solutions included:

• Facilitating stakeholder involvement with the owner, regulatory agency, e-waste owners and local interested parties and service providers.
• Evaluating waste management alternatives for final disposition (disposal vs. recycling) of the e-waste
• Developing a remedial action plan.
• Managing remedial implementation involving contractor coordination, oversight and documentation.
• Conducting drone surveys to document construction progress.
• Overseeing environmental sampling and reporting.
• Providing regulatory interface, collaboration and closure.

Results

In 2022, TRC completed the removal of 1.2 million pounds of e-waste and 83,000 pounds of leaded glass, while recycling 75% of the materials. In June 2023, after samples verified that contaminants of concern were below cleanup levels, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality issued the Certificate of Completion. Overall, the project helped return the facility to community use and prevented further health and safety risks. A new lease agreement is pending for the property that is expected to bring economic benefits for the community.

In January 2024, TRC won an Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) Business Achievement award in the Project Merit category for leading the e-waste investigation, remediation and collaborative management of the regulatory process for the former recycling facility.