USPS Fined $33,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations in Seattle

The U.S. Postal Service has been fined $33,000 by Washington's Department of Ecology for improperly managing and storing dangerous waste at its Seattle Bulk Mail Center in Federal Way, as revealed in a 2024 inspection. The violations include failure to identify and assess hazardous waste such as insecticides, propane, paints, and cleaning products; inadequate storage practices like unlabeled containers and crowded storage areas; and failure to maintain required personnel training records. Previous inspections in 2018, 2019, and 2022 had also identified similar issues, with the amount of dangerous waste on site reaching up to 4.6 tons, posing risks of chemical reactions and environmental hazards. The Postal Service has since corrected the most urgent violations, including improving storage and waste disposal methods, though it continues to work with Ecology on employee training compliance. Christa Colouzis, manager for Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program, emphasized the importance of properly managing hazardous waste to protect human health and the environment. USPS now faces the choice to pay the penalty or appeal within 30 days.