In a recent development, Walmart has reached a $7.5 million settlement to resolve allegations made by California officials regarding the illegal disposal of hazardous materials. The suit claimed that the retail corporation improperly discarded a range of dangerous waste, including batteries, insecticide aerosol cans, toxic cleaning products, electronic waste, latex paints, and more within municipal landfills across the state.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the settlement on Tuesday, which also mandates Walmart to engage an independent third-party auditor to perform three waste audits annually at its facilities throughout California for the next four years. These audit findings must be submitted to the attorney general’s office, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the district attorneys of the twelve counties involved in the legal action.
Additionally, the agreement requires Walmart to maintain its hazardous waste management programs and implement any necessary changes to align with California’s Hazardous Waste Control Law. According to Walmart, the stipulation to uphold their existing waste compliance initiative highlights its effectiveness in preventing hazardous waste from entering public landfills.
In terms of financial implications, Walmart will be responsible for paying $4.3 million in civil penalties and $3.2 million in reimbursements, pending approval from an Alameda County Superior Court judge. Attorney General Bonta pointed out that Walmart’s illegal waste disposal not only breached California’s laws but also posed significant risks to human health and the environment. He expressed optimism that this settlement would enforce Walmart’s adherence to proper hazardous waste handling and disposal protocols.
The lawsuit was initiated by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and district attorneys from various counties, including Alameda and Fresno, as part of a broader effort to enforce environmental regulations. Between 2015 and 2021, the state conducted 70 inspections of waste from Walmart stores sent to landfills, uncovering thousands of containers filled with toxic aerosols and liquid waste, which included items like spray paints and various household chemicals, in addition to medical waste like over-the-counter medications.
Bonta’s office asserted that these unlawful disposals infringed upon the Hazardous Waste Control Law, the Medical Waste Management Act, and Unfair Competition Law. Orange County’s District Attorney, Todd Spitzer, emphasized the serious risks posed to public health, worker safety, and the environment due to the unlawful disposal and mishandling of hazardous waste, reiterating the commitment to hold corporations accountable for environmental law violations.
This is not Walmart’s first encounter with legal actions concerning hazardous waste disposal. A similar lawsuit in 2010 resulted in a $25 million payment from Walmart, which operates over 300 stores in California, along with a commitment to cease dumping hazardous products into unsuitable local landfills. Furthermore, the retailer settled with Missouri for $1.25 million in 2012 over comparable allegations and pleaded guilty to six federal misdemeanors in 2013 related to negligent pollution discharge in 16 California counties as part of an overarching settlement of $81 million that also addressed charges in Missouri.