The Missouri Department of Agriculture has reached a settlement with a Missouri-based waste management company regarding the use of uncertified scales on company trucks.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture's Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division alleged that during 2010, Aspen Waste Systems of Missouri, LLC, headquartered in Earth City, installed and used commercial scales that had not been inspected or certified for accuracy.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Aspen Waste Systems of Missouri, LLC, may use uncertified scales to provide customers with estimates, but not official measurements. The company must allow field staff from the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division access to inspect both their facilities and vehicles.

Aspen Waste Systems will also pay a penalty according to the settlement agreement, and be subject to penalties up to $500 for any future violations related to uncertified commercial weighing and measuring devices.

The Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division maintains Missouri's official standards of measure, including length, volume and mass while also inspecting commercial weighing and measuring devices and promoting uniformity in weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards. All weighing and measuring devices used for commerce in Missouri must conform to Chapter 413 of Missouri's Revised Statutes.

For more information regarding the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit mda.mo.gov.