The Washington Department of Ecology fined the US Postal Service $33,000 after inspectors found repeated violations in how its Seattle Bulk Mail Center in Federal Way handled hazardous waste.
The fine follows a 2024 inspection that found unsafe storage practices for leaking and damaged packages containing hazardous materials such as insecticides, propane, paints, and cleaning products. The facility is required to identify, label, and safely store these items until proper disposal.
Ecology officials said the violations are not new. Inspections in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024 documented similar problems at the Federal Way center, including crowded storage areas, unlabeled containers, and poor recordkeeping. In 2022, USPS reported having more than 9,000 pounds of dangerous waste on site.
“We expect businesses that generate hazardous waste to take the regulations seriously,” said Christa Colouzis, Northwest Region manager for Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program. “If dangerous waste isn’t properly managed, it can quickly become a safety issue for people and the environment.”
Violations Identified
The 2024 inspection cited the Postal Service for:
- Failing to promptly determine whether waste was dangerous and what hazards it posed.
- Failing to store waste safely, including maintaining aisle space, using secondary containment, labeling, and conducting weekly inspections.
- Improperly managing universal waste, such as batteries and fluorescent bulbs.
- Failing to maintain personnel training records.
The Department of Ecology said USPS has since corrected issues requiring immediate attention.
The Postal Service has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal to the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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