Walmart pleaded guilty Tuesday on charges that California Walmart stores took the easy—and illegal—way out of dealing with hazardous waste by dumping it in sanitation drains. The company will pay $81 million as part of the plea. This isn't the first time Walmart has faced such charges:
The plea agreements announced Tuesday end a nearly decade-old investigation involving more than 20 prosecutors and 32 environmental groups.
In 2010, the company agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle similar allegations made by California authorities that led to the overhaul of its hazardous waste compliance program nationwide. The state investigation began eight years ago when a San Diego County health department employee saw a worker pouring bleach down a drain. [...]
Court documents show the illegal dumping occurred in 16 California counties between 2003 and 2005. Federal prosecutors said the company didn't train its employees on how to handle and dispose hazardous materials at its stores.
Walmart claims employees are now trained in dealing with hazardous materials.