Home Depot to Pay $27.84 Million for Hazardous Waste and Record Disposal Violations
The company's stores and facilities were found to have improperly managed the disposal of aerosol cans, batteries, electronics, pesticides, paint, and other items, as well as customer information.
Home Depot Inc. has agreed to pay $27.84 million to settle charges by California's attorney general that it illegally disposed of hazardous waste in California and disposed of customer records without first making personal information unreadable.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that Home Depot will pay $9.35 million toward environmental protection and compliance, $16.64 million in civil penalties, and $1.85 million to cover costs.
The accord happened after more than two years of inspections of Home Depot trash dumpsters. The company's stores and facilities were found to have improperly managed the disposal of aerosol cans, batteries, electronics, pesticides, paint, and other items, as well as customer information. The hazardous wastes were allegedly being routinely sent to local landfills that were not permitted to receive those materials.
In addition to the financial penalties, Home Depot has committed to employing hazardous waste compliance managers and to daily store inspections aiming to ensure the proper handling of hazardous waste and materials.