Since we frequently hear questions about liability, perhaps Ecology's response will help you. Commercial property owners are responsible for the dangerous wastes generated on their property. Contractors can assist the property owner in managing the waste, but the waste is counted towards the property owner's generator status and needs to be manifested off-site for recycling or treatment from the property. Contractors should not take wastes generated at the work site back to their shop. This activity is illegal transportation of dangerous wastes.
Contractors are responsible for their own wastes that originate on their own property.
Each year, Industrial Waste reviews all of the fees shown in the table below, which compares our 1999 fees with the new ones for 2000. Our intent is to recover just what it costs to operate the fee programs listed in the table. The surcharge includes an administrative charge that recovers costs of sampling, analysis, inspection, and billing high-strength dischargers. We also recover costs for monitoring discharges for heavy metals and fats, oils, and grease. Charges recover all costs of inspecting and sampling companies with such discharges.