Confetti String Clean Air Orders

EPA has ordered five national retail chains to pull from their shelves cans of illegally imported confetti string products that contain banned hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These substances deplete the earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer and increase the risk of skin cancer. Millions of cans of these novelty items, all imported from China or Taiwan and known by various names such as Zany String, Crazy String, and Party Streamer, have been sold illegally in the United States.

Compliance Orders requiring removal and destruction of HCFC-containing products were issued by EPA's Office of Compliance and Enforcement Assurance Air Enforcement Division in 2006. Follow-up penalty orders by EPA's regional offices are being pursued for each of these national chains. As these penalty orders are completed, this page will be updated.

Press Release (09/05/06)
Information Sheet
American Greetings Administrative Compliance Order (PDF) (8 pp, 2 M, About PDF) 5/1/06
- American Greetings Administrative Penalty Order (PDF) (14 pp, 504K, About PDF) 9/28/06
Dollar General Administrative Compliance Order (PDF) (8pp, 2MB, About PDF) 7/12/06
Dollar Tree Administrative Compliance Order (PDF) (7pp, 2MB, About PDF) 6/16/06
Target Administrative Compliance Order (PDF) (6pp, 1MB, About PDF) 7/12/06
- Target Administrative Penalty Order (PDF) (10pp, 351KB, About PDF) 6/20/07
Too, Inc. Administrative Compliance Order (PDF) (8pp, 2MB, About PDF) 5/18/06
- Too, Inc. Administrative Penalty Order (PDF) (15pp, 532KB, About PDF) 11/22/06

Wal-mart String Consent Agreement and Final Order (PDF) (9pp, 430KB, About PDF) 09/30/08

For additional information, contact:

Charlie Garlow
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2242A)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460-0001
(202) 564-1088
garlow.charlie@epa.gov

Civil Enforcement | Cleanup Enforcement | Criminal Enforcement

Confetti String Clean Air Orders

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