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A Covington County landfill could be ordered to pay a fine for multiple environmental violations.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is recommending that Ashberry Landfill, located near Opp, to pay a civil penalty of $151,950 for the alleged violations. Ashberry Landfill, LLC operates the Ashberry C/D Landfill and Tire Recycling Facility, processing tires as well as construction and demolition waste.

The violations listed in the ADEM order consist of failure to properly maintain cover on the landfill, failure to confine waste, failure to compact waste, failure to maintain 4:1 slopes, failure to operate the facility as stipulated in the permit and disposal of waste outside of a certified cell. If the ADEM order is issued, Ashberry Landfill would be required to correct all violations within specified timeframes and to operate in compliance with ADEM’s solid waste disposal codes.

Ashberry first received a solid waste disposal permit in 2003. A permit for processing tire scrap was issued in 2010. The facility has received multiple violation notices over the years, but this marks the first time ADEM is fining the company. The ADEM order includes a corrective action plan that includes a timeline to correct environmental violations.

Local residents have complained about the landfill, citing mountains of uncovered tires and heavy mosquitoes.

The violations and fine against Ashberry Landfill come after a subterranean fire at another Alabama landfill east of Birmingham causing an environmental emergency for residents of that area.

ADEM’s notice was given on Dec. 16 and there is a 30-day comment period. The order can be found at http://adem.alabama.gov/compInfo/adminOrders.cnt.