MAX Environmental is a hazardous waste landfill in the small town of Yukon, Pennsylvania. The facility accepts materials from energy, construction, manufacturing, and contaminated waste sites. MAX has caused trouble for Yukon for decades, and we want the pollution to stop.
MAX is the only landfill in PA with permission to accept and treat extremely toxic waste. But MAX has a long list of violations - including a 2023 EPA inspection and consent order.
The community has been fighting this major polluter since the 1970s. When MAX ran out of space at Landfill #6, it proposed another huge landfill in the town. MWA helped the people of Yukon shut the project down, and MAX withdrew the application.
We’ve continued to monitor the waste outfall on Sewickley Creek and support the community.
A LEGACY POLLUTOR
MAX Environmental Violation History:
- 2002 - 2012: DEP noted over 105 violations at MAX:
- Improper handling of hazardous waste
- Dumping solid waste unlawfully
- Leaking containment boxes causing
- Hazardous waste to spread onto the ground
- Facility not maintained /operated to minimize risk of fire
- January 2007 - August 2019: MAX was out of compliance with their water discharge permit for 1,846 days (excess fecal coliform, ammonia, chlorine, and more)
- August 2018 - August 2019: MAX exceeded limits for contaminants like: hexavalent chromium, zinc, oil & grease, and pH for 124 days
- 2020 - 2021: MAX continued to struggle with compliance and received more violations from DEP
- 2021: Illegal burning at the facility
- 2023: EPA Civil Investigation
- April 2024: EPA issued a RCRA Administrative Order on Consent (AOC)
- September 2024: EPA issued another NPDES Administrative Order on Consent (AOC)
Violations and Inspection Reports:
- EPA Civil Inspection Report (March 2023)
- EPA Notice of Violations (December 2023)
- PA DEP Inspection Report (March 2024)
- EPA Consent Order (April 2024)
- EPA Consent Order (September 2024)
EPA Listening Session (Oct 2024):
In October 2024, EPA hosted a community listening session for the people affected by MAX Environmental's Yukon facility. Resource documents from the session are linked below.