WATERBURY, Ct. — G&K Services Co. disputes the environmental claims made regarding its industrial laundry operations here but has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle the matter dating back to spring 2008.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal sued G&K Services on behalf of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and won an order blocking G&K from laundering soiled shop towels contaminated with various solvents, oils and greases that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at its Waterbury facility.
The G&K plant’s emissions created a nuisance odor, prompting complaints from neighbors who live nearby. A state investigation confirmed the potentially carcinogenic and neurotoxic emissions could be irritating and damaging to lungs, eyes and skin, according to a joint press release from Blumenthal and DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella.
Blumenthal claimed in the lawsuit that G&K violated its DEP permits and state regulations by failing to install proper pollution-control equipment on its washers and failing to obtain required permits for the construction and operation of its industrial dryers, which are considered a stationary source of air pollution.
G&K says it cooperated fully with the DEP to resolve the matter but that it disagrees with “many of the substantive characterizations and other allegations made related to this settlement.”
“The agreed-upon settlement amount is based, in large part, on hypothetical worst-case scenarios of potential emissions, rather than any actual emissions from the facility,” G&K says in a press release. “As such, there is no actual evidence of harm involving G&K’s Waterbury operations.”
Under the stipulated judgment filed in court in February, G&K will pay $1.189 million in penalties to the state’s General Fund; $111,000 to the DEP for unpaid fees; and $500,000 to the City of Waterbury for environmental projects reviewed and approved by DEP to benefit Waterbury citizens.
“The amount of the financial settlement is within previously established reserves and will not impact the company’s third-quarter earnings,” G&K says.
The judgment revokes the company’s licenses to operate certain industrial washers at the Waterbury site and blocks the company from continued violations of the state’s air pollution and waste management regulations, and its wastewater permit, the Blumenthal-Marrella release says. Until the company meets legal standards and obtains proper permits, it is prohibited from laundering shop and print towels at the Waterbury facility.
State officials claim that since the 2008 court order, G&K has continued to collect shop towels from customers at the Waterbury site and trucked the goods to an out-of-state facility for processing.
“G&K continues its operations, serving customers in Waterbury and the surrounding communities, consistent with its commitment to the health and well-being of its employees, customers and the communities it serves,” the company says.
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