Illinois EPA grants K. Hoving Recycling & Disposal a Provisional Variance to Accept Tree Debris from July 1 Storm in West Chicago/DuPage County Area

Springfield—The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has granted a provisional variance to K. Hoving Recycling and Disposal Inc. in West Chicago, which is authorized to process general construction and demolition debris, to also accept and process tree limbs and debris for a  period of 45 days.

On Sunday, July 1, 2012, severe weather, including 90-mile per hour winds, were experienced in the West Chicago/DuPage County area, resulting in a significant amount of tree debris from downed and damaged limbs, including ones on power lines that caused outages. Due to the volume of the tree debris, other facilities in the vicinity that are permitted to accept this material are inundated and K. Hoving has been contacted by citizens and some municipalities asking if it can assist with the cleanup efforts. K. Hoving wishes to do so and has grinders and shredders needed to process wood waste at the facility.

K. Hoving’s application for a provisional variance includes a definite compliance program, evaluates all reasonable alternatives for compliance and demonstrates that any adverse impacts will be minimal. Illinois  EPA finds that on a short-term basis, Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations applicable to tree debris as landscape waste would impose an arbitrary or unreasonable hardship based upon the facts and circumstances. If K. Hoving does not seek long-term authorization to accept tree debris as landscape waste within the 45-day period, it can request an extension of the provisional variance or cease accepting and processing tree debris.

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