Virginia DEQ investigating after pharmaceutical, cosmetology substances found dumped in Henrico, Richmond

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is investigating after someone dumped multiple large metal drums apparently containing pharmaceutical and cosmetology substances at at least seven locations in Eastern Henrico County and the city of Richmond.

Nearly 80 55-gallon drums containing the substances were found dumped in total at the locations, according to a DEQ report. Several five-gallon buckets also were found behind a Henrico shopping center at 3302 Williamsburg Road, at which between eight and 10 of the larger drums were dumped.

The 55-gallon drums also were found dumped at:
• 3226 Fifth Street (43 drums);
• 1405 Stiff Street (12);
• East 10th Street (5);
• 1907 Texas Avenue (4);
• Southampton Avenue (2);
• 2710 Clifton Avenue (2);
• 1551 Hinton Street (1).

A Henrico Fire official first reported the presence of the drums behind the Williamsburg Road shopping center May 10 shortly after noon, according to the report. They had been discovered there about an hour earlier and apparently contained Plantapon SF, which is described as a mild surfactant mixture for cosmetic cleaning preparations such as baby shower and bath products, shampoos and facial washes.

The Henrico Fire Marshal’s Office had hired a contractor to clean up the substances at that location, according to the report.

Anyone with information about the illegal dumping or the substance contained in the drums should contact proprep@deq.virginia.gov. The agency is working with Henrico County, the city of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to learn more, to find the people responsible for dumping the drums and to determine the next steps, officials wrote in a Tweet May 10.