Notices by Ashley M. Gjøvik, JD (ashleygjovik@mastodon.social), page 3

Look at Apple’s global & 3250 Scott waste output, & consider time timing of “Zero Waste”

Starting in 2019 there was a dramatic decrease in the amount of haz waste sent to landfills. In 2020, 3250 Scott reduced its legal hazardous waste disposal by -229%

Where did that waste go?

Around 2019, Apple launched a new initiative they called “Zero Waste.” Apple proclaimed it'll reduce the amount of haz waste it sends to landfills (TSDFs) to 0.

Apple began reporting a new metric: % of waste “diverted” from landfills.

You can probably see where this is going.

In 2021, Apple launched a new executive compensation program where Apple execs get more money if it looks like Apple's being environmentally responsible. Progress on Zero Waste gives the execs more money! Apple is dumping to get to Zero. Apple is giving execs bonuses for dumping.

So, we have evidence of emissions, violations, missing waste, unmonitored exhaust, & an incentive to "disappear" hazardous waste on site

Also in Apple's 2023 10K filing Apple complained that compliance with env laws is "onerous & expensive" & it harms Apple to follow env laws.

Apple also set industry standards for chemical use, including banning a number of chemicals from their supply chain. Meanwhile, Apple vented the same banned chemicals into my bedroom (NMP, Toluene, Hexane, Benzene, etc.)

Ok, we’ve established:

- Apple admits every year it exhausts 7-17 tons of toxic gases from 3250 Scott into outdoor air

-EPA found Apple didn't have permits for most emissions (so illegal dumping in the air)

- Apple's has hundreds of thousands of pounds of missing hazardous waste

Apple reduced cost by illegally venting toxic waste instead of legally disposing & also got good PR by claiming dumping is "diversion." But how'd Apple stop gov from finding out?

Apple intentionally didn't train any employees on haz waste disposal, but did teach PR "crisis mgmt"

Finally Apple also literally put Apple Global Security in charge of haz waste disposal & spills.

Yes the Worldwide Loyalty team was in charge of exhaust. https://gizmodo.com/apple-gestapo-how-apple-hunts-down-leaks-5427058

All of this excitement about Apple's many toxic waste failures was apparently too much for DropBox and they needed to take a break. In the meantime, I've now also shared the documents here: https://drive.proton.me/urls/KPZ6E314Q8#BK4LU2W3FWur

The US EPA inspector also came across a pile of random containers of hazardous waste, apparently thrown in the corner of the Bunker. Three container's contents were unknown. All 10 were not dated & had not been analyzed. Apple claimed they had just left them there that morning.

Speaking of Apple's Chemical Bunker...when US EPA started looking around, it saw 30 containers of corrosive liquid, & 12 containers of flammable liquids, all "stacked against the wall." The labels were not visible so EPA had to dig through the jugs to figure out what was there.

My civil lawsuit against Apple includes 2 toxic tort claims for what theyre doing at this factory. I alleged Nuisance + Ultrahazardous Activities. The US Judge is letting me proceed with both claims.
https://casetext.com/case/gjovik-v-apple-inc-1

Apple can keep flailing around, but we're in US court now & they will be forced to face the music. I'm also waiting to hear from US Dept of Labor Judge if I can add RCRA, Clean Air Act, & TSCA retaliation claims.

Finally, its also possible DOJ could pursue criminal charges.

Finally, lets talk about Apple's factory exhaust into the ambient air next to thousands of homes and two public parks.

Much of Apple's solvent exhaust was vented out "as is" (unabated) from the main system.

The illegal solvent treatment tank exhaust did go through the untested carbon boxes, but then it was released out of a tiny vent pointed *down* at the building. Any gases heavier then air would be directed to the ground level to pool into toxic vapor plumes.

There were no permits.

If you're thinking, ok that all sounds very dangerous, but I'm sure Apple was keeping an eye on things...

The facility operated 24/7 but only M-F.

On the weekends it was unattended & Apple didn't monitor their waste or waste treatment systems.

Apple also stopped their weekly inspections in Feb 2023 after I learned what they were doing at the factory.

The US EPA inspector noticed Apple had a 55-gallon container of corrosive liquid chemicals sitting in Apple's "Chemical Bunker," & the container's cap was removed

EPA said: hey Apple, why is that haz waste container left open?

Apple responded: its open so the vapors can vent, you know, so it doesn't explode

EPA said: you need to buy containers designed for these types of chemicals

Next, EPA discovered that Apple had many smaller nonpermitted tanks of haz waste scattered around the plant; including 5-gallon containers of "highly flammable" & corrosive chemicals. Apple unilaterally declared they were not hazardous waste because Apple 1) never analyzed it & 2) did pour water into it. EPA said "no" & also pouring water into haz waste is still "treating" haz waste, and requires a permit that Apple did not have.

We're not done, you guys. There's more!! However, if you feel like you just got a strong whiff of Apple's poison gases & you need a moment to catch your breath; I'll just leave this right here as a reminder of how important it is that we look out for each other and feel a sense of duty to the community around us.

It's a tale as old as time that industry will poison communities as much as it can, as long as it can, until every day people come together to demand to not be slowly murdered.

🧵 In 2020, I nearly died from mysterious industrial chemical exposure at my apartment. Later, in 2023, I discovered my employer was dumping toxic waste into the apartment windows from their Skunkworks semiconductor fab next-door. I tipped off the US EPA, who sent their env cops to raid Apple's plant in Aug of 2023. The US EPA finally released the report of their enforcement inspections & sent me a copy on Friday. 💀 ⬇️

TLDR; EPA discovered that Apple was:
- illegally treating hazardous waste
- illegally transporting hazardous waste to disposal facilities
- illegally dumping hazardous waste into the ambient air outside the facility (into the apartment windows)
- leaving stockpiles of extremely dangerous chemicals unattended on weekends

The inspection was supposed to be unannounced so EPA surprises the inspected party who has no chance to cover up issues before EPA gets inside. However city HazMat tipped off Apple & EPA was greeted by Apple's EH&S team. Note: what EPA found was AFTER Apple had time to clean up.

After discovering what Apple did, I then spent three months requesting records & digging through regulatory filings to learn more - which led me to file a complaint to US EPA in June 2023. I met with EPA's investigators & sent them everything I discovered.

I told EPA I didn't want my whistleblowing to be anonymous, and instead, that if EPA shows up to inspect the plant, when they do, please have the EPA cops tell Apple: "Ashley says hi." 💀

US EPA Enforcement & Compliance conducted 3 onsite inspections of Apple's fab facility in 8/2023 + 1/2024. US EPA noted at least *19* potential violations of the RCRA hazardous waste statute.

I just posted US EPA's report for public access. Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/312oqvretg7yyhfx0ohx4/AGZduVXs0_1geqIyi0NA9nE?rlkey=3aa2tw15ek3trqlbdh7pw9erh&st=e7pg1cpp&dl=0