The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently announced that popular retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, has pled guilty to several Clean Water Act violations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

The company admitted to illegally disposing of and managing hazardous waste materials including pesticides and other federally controlled chemical substances at stores throughout the country and for failing to properly education employees about federal and state hazardous waste management procedures.

Wal-Mart Stores will be required to pay more than one hundred and ten million dollars in reparations for breaking federal and state environmental laws and civil penalties. It was determined that the retailer’s non-compliance with established hazardous waste disposal practices placed gave them an unfair economic advantage against their competitors.

The fines for Clean Water Act violations will be used for various community service projects, and the retailer will be mandated to enact a comprehensive, country-wide environmental compliance plan to manage hazardous and toxic waste generated at its locations.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Businesses both small and large need to play by the rules when it comes to hazardous waste materials. If you company buys, sells, or uses any of the substances defined as hazardous by the federal government, it’s essential you train employees on proper handling, management, and disposal practices. Failure to do so can land you and your business in hot water!