Macy’s, the fashion retail giant, has been hit with a hefty US $ 1.6 million fine for environmental infractions in its California stores.
An extensive investigation into Macy’s Retail Holdings, LLC has uncovered years of illegal hazardous waste disposal in 98 of its California retail locations. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office spearheaded the inquiry.
The case, filed in the Riverside County Superior Court, involved the cooperation of various district attorneys’ offices, including those in Alameda, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Shasta, and Yolo counties, along with the L.A. City Attorney’s Office.
The lawsuit alleged that Macy’s, instead of properly disposing of hazardous materials at authorised waste facilities, opted to unlawfully dump them in regular trash bins and local landfills, which lacked permits for receiving such waste.
Among the hazardous items discarded were batteries, electronic devices, flammable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, substances with drug facts, and other materials classified as flammable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive.
The settlement mandates Macy’s to pay US $ 1,175,000 in civil penalties and US $ 425,000 in cost reimbursement.
In response, Macy’s has worked cooperatively with the judgment and instituted new waste disposal policies for future compliance. Their hazardous waste is now collected by state-registered haulers, who ensure proper transport to authorized disposal facilities and maintain meticulous documentation.
Macy’s, headquartered in New York City, operates 507 stores across the United States.
