SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced May 24 that Cox Communications California LLC (Cox) and other related entities will pay $3,318,700 to resolve allegations of unlawfully disposing hazardous waste.
“If a company wants to do business in our state, it must abide by our laws,” Becerra said in a statement. “Unlawfully disposing of hazardous waste can lead to serious health and environmental risks. Unlawfully disposing of personal customer information can seriously jeopardize a person’s right to privacy and open the door to identity theft. The California Department of Justice will continue working with state and local agencies to prosecute those who violate our environmental and customer record laws.”
According to a press release, Cox allegedly violated California’s Hazardous Waste Control Law and Unfair Competition Law when it improperly disposed of hazardous batteries, electronic devices and aerosols.
“The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has an environmental protection unit and a consumer protection unit dedicated to ensuring that all entities abide by state laws protecting our natural resources and consumer protection laws,” said the Alameda County District Attorney in a statement. “Today’s settlement marks a victory for both the environment and for the customers of Cox Communication. The legal action also serves as a warning that companies who unlawfully dispose of hazardous waste will be brought to justice.”