State Fines 2 Health Systems For Illegally Dumping Waste
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined two health systems for illegally dumping medical waste in a landfill.
The state agency says UPMC has been hit with $451,000 in fines and Allegheny Health Network has been fined $86,900.
Officials say the state found 12 of UPMC's hospitals illegally dumped large quantities of needles, bloody dressings and body fluids into a Monroeville landfill.
Operators at the landfill prompted the investigation when they found medical waste had been combined with municipal waste shipments from UPMC's hospitals. Investigators also discovered that two AHN facilities were violating regulations.
Both health systems have paid the fines.
UPMC officials say they're working to ensure waste disposal is done in compliance with the DEP. AHN didn't return a call for comment.
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