MACEDONIA, Ohio — A Macedonia chemical company with a history of environmental mishaps is facing scrutiny from state regulators after a recent inspection uncovered what officials described as years of unresolved hazardous waste violations, including illegally storing corrosive and ignitable materials, failing to label unidentified chemicals, and neglecting safety and emergency protocols.
Royal Chemical Co., located at 8679 Freeway Dr., was the subject of a comprehensive Ohio Environmental Protection Agency inspection on June 2, 2025. The findings, detailed in a report transmitted to the company on August 14, paint a picture of systemic failures in handling dangerous substances. The inspection followed a series of incidents, including a tanker explosion in May 2024 that released approximately 3,500 gallons of caustic sodium hydroxide into the surrounding area and a tributary of Indian Creek.
According to the EPA report, inspectors discovered numerous instances of hazardous waste being stored far beyond the legal 90-day limit without a permit. One container of D002 corrosive waste had been on-site for 385 days, while some drums containing acidic and oxidizing materials had been stored for over two years.
The report also catalogues a widespread failure to properly manage and identify waste. Inspectors found dozens of unlabeled containers with contents marked as “Unknown Material…Needs Checked,” “Caustic,” and “Pit Wastewater Untreated High pH.” This failure, the report notes, extends to contaminated soil from previous remediation activities that was left unevaluated.
"Royal Chemical failed to determine if the following wastes were hazardous waste," the report states, listing extensive inventories of drums, totes, and supersacks filled with unknown liquids and solids throughout the facility.
Safety protocols appeared to be severely lacking. The EPA found that incompatible wastes, such as acids and oxidizers, were stored together, posing a risk of dangerous reactions. The company had not conducted required weekly inspections of its central waste accumulation area since 2022, and waste-handling employees had not received hazardous waste training in over three years.
Furthermore, the company’s emergency preparedness was deemed deficient. The EPA could find no proof that Royal Chemical’s contingency plan had been sent to local fire departments, police, or hospitals. The plan’s Quick Reference Guide was missing critical information, including lists of on-site hazards, facility maps, and evacuation routes.
This is not the company’s first encounter with regulators. In 2019, Royal Chemical was cited for the unauthorized release of a caustic solution into a drainage ditch leading to Indian Creek. While a clean-up was completed, stormwater violations continued.
The recent inspection led the Ohio EPA to issue Notices of Violation on July 2 and July 28, 2025. The violations include shipping hazardous waste to an unauthorized facility. According to the report, Royal Chemical sent ignitable and corrosive waste to a facility in Medina not permitted to accept it. Only after the shipment was rejected was it sent to an authorized disposal site.
The Ohio EPA has requested that Royal Chemical provide documentation detailing the steps taken to resolve the numerous outstanding violations. The report warns that failure to comply may result in administrative or civil penalties.