The Minnesota-based Target Corporation has been ordered to pay $7.4 million for alleged illegal disposal of hazardous e-waste in trash during the five-year period between 2012 and 2016. The settlement issued by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office noted that the company actions are in clear violation of California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2013.
The District Attorney and the California Attorney General noted that the current settlements follow investigations conducted at Target facilities during the above mentioned period, which revealed improper disposal of retail hazardous waste to landfills. The disposed items included electronic waste such as computers, laptops, televisions, printed circuit boards, in addition to batteries, aerosol cans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, medical waste. It also dumped customers’ confidential medical information in landfills.
The settlement amount comprises of $3.2 million in civil penalties, $300,000 for funding of Supplemental Environmental Projects, expenses of at least $3 million towards conducting necessary inspections and audits of facilities and $900,000 towards attorneys’ fees, and costs of investigation and enforcement.
The Attorney General hoped that the hefty penalties will force Target to implement necessary changes to ensure that such events never happen again. Furthermore, it is a reminder to all other companies to abide by the law of the state.
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