Garbage Hauler Pays Fine, Agrees To Stop Distributing Banned Refuse Bins

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it has settled a lawsuit against ABC Disposal, Inc., a refuse hauling company in Port Richey, Florida. The owners of the firm, Jack and Constance Weber, have consented to a federal court order requiring them to remove or repair unstable, slant-sided refuse bins that are banned under Federal law. Under the order the Webers have already paid a $2,000 fine for distributing banned refuse bins after warnings from the Commission.

In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a Federal ban of large, unstable slant-sided refuse bins. These large metal bans are typically found in parking lots, and near apartment buildings, shopping centers and restaurants. If the bins tip over on children who climb and hang on them, they can crush the children, causing death or serious injuries. The Commission reports that 22 children have died in 63 known tip-over incidents since 1975.

The CPSC investigators check slant-sided refuse bins by administering a test designed to simulate the pulling and swinging activity of children playing on the bins. To satisfy the Federal ban, a slant-sided refuse bin must sustain a 70 pound horizontal force and a 191 pound vertical force. In the case against ABC Disposal, the Commission alleged that nine refuse bins leased by ABC Disposal in the Port Richey area failed the Federal test. As part of the settlement, when the Commission inspects ABC Disposal's bins, the firm will reimburse the government for those costs.