A Recology truck’s mechanical line failed and leaked hydraulic fluid onto the 5400 block of 89th Avenue Southeast on the afternoon of July 8, according to the city.

The incident happened when Recology crews were servicing the Island during their recycling, compost and garbage routes. Erin Gagnon, Recology’s government affairs and community relation manager, said Recology blocked the impacted portion of 89th while pairing with NRC to fully clean up the spill while adhering to Department of Ecology requirements. Recology contacted NRC, a licensed and bonded remediation company, following the spillage.

Gagnon added that Recology always blocks streets after spillages — which have occurred before on Mercer Island, she said — because they don’t want drivers treading through the fluid and tracking it elsewhere.

According to Gagnon and the city, Recology uses a 100-percent renewable vegetable-based hydraulic fluid that is biodegradable and poses low risk.

The July 8 incident occurred at noon and cleanup was complete by 4 p.m. Recology drivers immediately notified their supervisor at the outset and two supervisors responded to the spill. The city noted that a Public Works representative was on site along with a Mercer Island Fire Department unit to check on the cleanup and contact the impacted property owners at a later time.

Recology has been in contact with the two residents whose properties were affected by the spill, according to the city. Gagnon noted that one resident accepted the cleanup option at that time by NRC, and the other homeowner declined and is working with Recology’s third-party claim system Helmsman.

One resident, Brian Simmons, said that his home’s front yard is drenched in fluid and the street appears permanently damaged. Simmons added that he is concerned for the community in general as some residents have reported other spills on the Island.

Regarding the prior spills in the city, Gagnon said there are unfortunately occasional failures in Recology trucks’ mechanical systems. The truck that spilled fluid on July 8 was part of a new fleet that Recology purchased specifically for its 10-year contract with the city that began on Oct. 1, 2019.

“We try our hardest to avoid any and all issues, including spills,” said Gagnon, adding that the prior spills were also cleaned up in accordance with Department of Ecology requirements in addition to Recology’s policy and in partnership with the city. Gagnon didn’t have the number of prior spills on the Island on hand at post time.

When it comes to Recology’s trucks, Gagnon said the company adheres to all Department of Transporation regulations.

“We always inspect our trucks for any issues. We conduct rigorous in-shop testing of all of our new vehicles and then all of our operating vehicles as well,” said Gagnon, adding that Recology does this on 125-hour intervals.

Drivers are extensively trained to identify any potential issues while driving or inspecting their trucks along their routes. They conduct pre-trip inspections, and if they notice any issues they are asked to notify a maintenance manager, who will inspect the truck that day.

Public Works and Recology representatives were scheduled to discuss the incident on July 12.