by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe Illinois crime of is defined by 415 ILCS 5/44 as follows:
(f) Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste.
(1) A person commits Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste if he disposes of hazardous waste, and his acts which cause the hazardous waste to be disposed of, whether or not those acts are undertaken pursuant to or under color of any permit or license, are performed with a conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such disposing of hazardous waste is a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation.
(2) Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste is a Class 4 felony. In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, a person convicted of the offense of Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste is subject to a fine not to exceed $50,000 for each day of such offense.
A conviction for Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste under Illinois law is a Class 4 Felony, which carries a prison sentence of 1-3 years. Unlike most Class 4 Felonies, which are punishable by a fine of up to $25,000, Reckless Disposal of Hazardous Waste can result in a fine of $50,000 per day.