Wal-Mart Pleads Guilty In Hazardous Waste Case

August 7, 2013- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pleaded guilty in May to criminal charges of improperly disposing of fertilizer, pesticides and other hazardous products that were pulled from store shelves in California and Missouri because of damaged packaging and other problems.

Wal-Mart agreed to pay $81.6 million after pleading guilty to criminal charges of improperly disposing of products containing hazardous waste. The retail giant entered the plea in federal court in San Francisco to misdemeanor counts of violating the Clean Water Act and another environmental law regulating pesticides. The fine also settled Environmental Protection Agency allegations. In Kansas City, Mo., the company pleaded guilty to improperly handling pesticides.

The plea agreements ended a nearly decade-old investigation involving more than 20 prosecutors and 32 environmental groups that has cost Wal-Mart $110 million.

Illegal dumping occurred in 16 California counties between 2003 and 2005, according to court documents. Federal prosecutors said the company didn't train its employees on how to handle and dispose of hazardous materials. The result, prosecutors say, was that waste was tossed into trash bins or poured into sewer systems.

In 2010, Wal-Mart agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle similar allegations made by California authorities – including pouring bleach down store drains.

“By improperly handling hazardous waste, pesticides and other materials in violation of federal laws, Wal-Mart put the public and the environment at risk and gained an unfair economic advantage over other companies," said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Justice Department.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company has fixed the problem and implemented a hazardous material management and training program. She said employees are better trained on how to clean up, transport and dispose of dangerous products that are spilled in a store or have packages damaged.

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