San Diego-Walmart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle charges that it violated California environmental laws in its handling and disposal of fertilizer, pesticides, and other chemicals, according to a spokeswoman for the retail giant and prosecutors in the case after the settlement was signed by San Diego County Superior Court Judge Linda Quinn. The San Diego County district attorney’s office and the state attorney general’s office filed a civil complaint last month alleging that all of Walmart’s 236 stores, Sam’s Club stores, distribution centers, and storage facilities in the state were in violation. Prosecutors said the case was initiated when county investigators spotted a Walmart employee dumping bleach down a drain and a child playing in a fertilizer pile left near his home. Another case that was cited involved fertilizer that was found to have been dumped in a 10 x 200 foot planter behind a Walmart near a toll road in Orange County. This fertilizer had been washed by rain into a storm drain. Phyllis Harris, Walmart vice president for environmental compliance, explained that returned products normally are managed as hazardous waste and are labeled, stored, and shipped using a licensed hauler and sent to a licensed facility for disposal. But state and local authorities say these items were discarded in the trash. Walmart also is accused of sending damaged products and spilled materials by an unlicensed hauler to the return center. “It’s important to note that these incidents happened at least four years ago,” Harris stated. “Since then, we have worked closely with the State of California on a comprehensive hazardous waste plan that includes improved training programs, policies, and procedures. This robust environmental compliance initiative is focused on how to safely handle products like these and has been implemented in all of our stores and clubs.”
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain