US department store group Macy’s been ordered to pay $1.6 million in civil penalties and costs due to alleged environmental violations.
Macy’s must pay a total of $1.175 million in civil penalties and $425,000 in cost reimbursement.
The judgment in this civil lawsuit was filed in Riverside County Superior Court and is the result of an investigation into the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste by Macy’s over the last several years at its 98 California retail locations. District Attorney (DA) at the county of Riverside, Mike Hestrin, joined with the DAs from 25 counties and two City Attorneys to announce the violations and lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, instead of storing, transporting, and disposing of hazardous waste at authorised hazardous waste facilities, Macy’s illegally disposed of it in regular trash bins and illegally transported it to local landfills.
“Macy’s worked cooperatively with prosecutors during the investigation and the company has now implemented improved policies and procedures”
It was stated the hazardous waste included batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, items listed as containing drug-facts, and other flammable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive materials.
All retail stores are required to properly dispose of hazardous waste generated in the normal course of their business, and to manage such hazardous waste in labelled and segregated containers to ensure that incompatible wastes do not mix and cause dangerous chemical reactions.
According to the lawsuit, Macy’s worked cooperatively with prosecutors during the investigation and the company has now implemented improved policies and procedures, as well as improved training programmes related to managing hazardous waste aand avoiding environmental violations in the future.
Macy’s hazardous waste is now collected by state-registered haulers to properly transport it to authorised disposal facilities – and the process is now being properly documented.
The DA offices involved in the investigation include Alameda, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Shasta and Yolo counties, as well as Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
The final judgment in this case was signed on 21 September 2023 by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Irma Asberry.
Read more about environmental regulation on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Macy’s]
