Fines for Illegal Disposal of CCA-treated Wood Ash

In December 1997, an Eau Claire, Wisconsin man and the company he owns were fined $1.7 million—the largest award ever in Eau Claire County—for

illegal disposal of CCA-treated wood ash. An equivalent of a 55-gallon drum of the toxic incinerator ash was generated weekly from burning treated-wood pallets at the headquarters of Menards, a Wisconsin-based chain of 128 home improvement stores. Company owner John Menard —reportedly worth more than $1 billion—was disposing of the ash in plastic bags at his home until state environmental authorities were tipped off. Waste hauler BFI participated in the investigation, spanning several months in early 1997, when bags of ash picked up at Menard’s home were turned over to authorities. Fifteen felony charges were issued against the company and six misdemeanor charges against Menard. The cost of proper disposal would have been $100 to $125 per 55-gallon drum.