Last Friday, Judge Morris Jacobson of the Alameda County Superior Court ordered the Virginia corporation Dollar Tree Inc. to pay $2.72 million in civil penalty costs, according to a Yolo County District Attorney (DA) press release. Yolo County is set to receive $35,000 in costs and $129,000 in civil penalties.
Yolo County DA Jeff Reisig, as well as 45 other DAs, led the investigation that ultimately found Dollar Tree Inc. disposing of hazardous waste improperly. The waste included toxic materials, batteries, electronic devices, corrosive liquids and other electronic waste.
The investigation of over 480 facilities statewide found that store employees had been dumping toxic waste into local landfills, which are not authorized to manage toxic waste, rather than hazardous waste facilities.
Since the investigation, the stores have established new employee training programs on how to properly dispose of hazardous waste.
Graphic by Jennifer Wu.
