Merced Sun-Star Logo

Target illegally dumped hazardous waste in California. Now, it has to pay $7.4 million | Merced Sun-Star

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Newsletters
    • Buy Photo
    • FAQ

    • All News
    • Local News
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • UC Merced
    • California News
    • Nation/World
    • Communities
    • Atwater
    • Chowchilla
    • Livingston
    • Los Banos
    • Mariposa & Yosemite
    • All Sports
    • High Schools
    • High School Athletes
    • High School Football
    • Merced College
    • UC Merced
    • Outdoors
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • MLB
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The California Influencer Series
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Family
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Brigitte Bowers
    • Debbie Croft
    • Sarah Lim
    • Old Trainer
    • All Entertainment
    • Celebrations
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • All Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • Obituaries
    • View Obituaries
    • Place Obituaries

    • dealsaver
    • Circulars
    • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Pets
    • Garage Sales
    • Real Estate
    • Apartment and Rentals
    • Jobs
    • RVs/Motorhomes
    • Merchandise
    • Service Directory
    • Place an Ad
    • Place Celebration
    • Place Obituary Ad
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Place Legal Ad
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • See Legal Notices
  • Mobile & Apps

California

Target illegally dumped hazardous waste in California. Now, it has to pay $7.4 million

By Andrew Sheeler

    ORDER REPRINT →

December 05, 2018 03:26 PM

Target Corp. unlawfully disposed of customers’ private medical information and both hazardous and medical waste. Now, the corporation will pay $7.4 million in a settlement, the California Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday.

A state investigation found that the retail giant committed multiple environmental violations in California between 2012 and 2016 by improperly disposing of items such as electronics, batteries, aerosol cans, compact fluorescent light bulbs and medical waste in landfills, according to a statement from Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office.

“Target’s ongoing and improper disposal of hazardous waste and contaminants harmed the public and the environment,” Becerra said in prepared remarks. “We are confident that with these strong injunctive terms and penalties, Target will implement meaningful changes to prevent this from ever happening again.”

This is the second time that Target has settled with the state since 2009, when the state and multiple counties sued Target alleging improper dumping. As part of the initial settlement in 2011, Target agreed to pay $22.5 million in penalties, attorneys’ fees and funding for environmental projects.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Merced Sun-Star

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

As part of that settlement, Target agreed to an annual compliance audit and to refrain from disposing of hazardous waste in any unauthorized location.

However, an investigation by the state and several county district attorneys — including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, Orange and Ventura counties — found that Target illegally disposed of 2,038 items of hazardous waste, 175 items containing customers’ confidential medical information and 94 items of medical waste.

This latest settlement includes $3.2 million in civil penalties, $300,000 for funding environmental projects and at least $3 million to conduct three annual inspections and audits of 12 Target facilities.

Target released a statement about the settlement on Wednesday night.

“We’ve made significant progress in the way we handle hazardous waste following our 2011 settlement with the state of California. We have enhanced team member training, store operations and auditing processes and we continue work to improve our operations to best manage disposing of items like batteries, hairspray and laundry detergent that require additional, special care under California laws,” the statement read.

In addition, the corporation promised to “remind team members on best practices for handling environmentally sensitive items, commit to regular third-party audits and upgrade to clear trash bags in our stores for easier visual inspections.”

  Comments  

Videos

See ice on Shaver Lake captured by drone video

Thick snow turns Yosemite National Park into winter wonderland

View More Video

Trending Stories

One person injured in Merced County shooting, police say

February 19, 2019 01:57 PM

Police: More than a dozen people rescued from SeaWorld ride

February 18, 2019 11:53 PM

Gavin Newsom’s housing lawsuit put 47 California cities on notice. Is yours on the list?

February 19, 2019 12:00 AM

Cold winter storm expected to bring more snow to Yosemite Valley

February 19, 2019 06:00 AM

Gas tax hiring spree continues at Caltrans. It has hundreds of new openings

February 19, 2019 12:00 AM

Read Next

Could this new bill help solve California’s housing crisis? New study suggests otherwise
Video media Created with Sketch.

California

Could this new bill help solve California’s housing crisis? New study suggests otherwise

By Maddy Ashmun

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 20, 2019 12:02 AM

Sen. Scott Wiener wants CA to use upzoning to help make housing more affordable. A new study on zoning changes near transit centers in Chicago found housing prices went up but the number of units built did not.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Merced Sun-Star

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE CALIFORNIA

The Latest: Smollett gave false information in 2007 case

Entertainment

The Latest: Smollett gave false information in 2007 case

February 20, 2019 02:35 AM
Border wall, bullet train: California vs. Trump escalates

Nation & World

Border wall, bullet train: California vs. Trump escalates

February 20, 2019 01:51 AM
US steps up winter-warfare training as global threat shifts

Business

US steps up winter-warfare training as global threat shifts

February 20, 2019 05:17 AM
US mining sites dump 50M gallons of fouled wastewater daily

News

US mining sites dump 50M gallons of fouled wastewater daily

February 20, 2019 07:01 AM
Costume Designers Guild honors Ruth E. Carter, Glenn Close

Entertainment

Costume Designers Guild honors Ruth E. Carter, Glenn Close

February 20, 2019 06:57 AM

National

Wet winter mostly wasted in California

February 20, 2019 12:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Merced Sun-Star App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Advertising Information
  • Place Obituary, Celebration
  • Place Classified, Legal
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story