A recycler of everything from construction and demolition materials to organic and electronic waste will avoid millions of dollars in penalties by improving tracking of its operations and taking efforts to avoid collecting non-recyclable trash via its collection sites. 

DTG Enterprises Inc., which operates two recycling sites in the Tri-Cities, recently reached a settlement with the state’s Utilities and Transportation Commission. The commission’s staff claimed in 2024 that DTG collected and hauled solid waste for customers in 2023 but did not have the required state-issued certificate. 

Commission staff had recommended a penalty of nearly $3.4 million for DTG but the settlement has no financial penalty. Rather, the company will be required to track and report on recycling rates more closely. Among the settlement’s other requirements for DTG: 

• Educating customers about construction and recycling services and helping them find a solid waste provider.  
• Publishing lists of what can and cannot go in recycling dumpsters.  
• Labeling the recycling dumpsters more clearly.  
• Investing in automated sorting technology and training staff to identify acceptable and prohibited items.  
• Rejecting loads with prohibited items based on visual inspection, and fining violators. 

The settlement also allows for a new rulemaking process, which will review how DTGs case relate to the solid waste industry across the state. Commission staff will also file a motion to dismiss the agency’s complaint against DTG with prejudice. 

“The commission noted that starting a rulemaking and withdrawing a complaint as part of a settlement agreement is rare and is based on the unique and complex nature of this case,” the commission said in a statement.