SACRAMENTO — Target Corporation has agreed to a $7.4 million settlement with the state of California regarding allegations the company disposed of retail hazardous waste materials into the state's landfills.
According to the California Attorney General's Office, Target violated a 2011 judgment and state laws by placing electronics, batteries, aerosol cans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, syringes and even pharmaceuticals into landfills.
“Target’s ongoing and improper disposal of hazardous waste and contaminants harmed the public and the environment,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “We are confident that with these strong injunctive terms and penalties, Target will implement meaningful changes to prevent this from ever happening again.
"However, the wise move for all companies is to abide by the law and employ proactive training and processes to help ensure that hazardous waste violations are avoided in the first place."
The settlement includes $3.2 million in civil penalties and $300,000 to fund "supplemental environmental projects," according to Becerra's office. Target will also spend a minimum of $3 million on annual inspections and audits for 12 of its facilities and will pay $900,000 in attorney's fees and for investigation costs, the Attorney General's Office said.