Target to pay a $7.4 Million Fine for Illegally Depositing E-Waste inside Trash

Target has been illegally depositing hazardous e-waste and other sensitive waste and medical materials in the trash for four years.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that target was slapped with a $7.4 million fine by California for breaking the state’s laws on e-waste recycling and depositing 2,038 pieces of hazardous waste into the trash from 2012 to 2016.

California’s 2003 Electronic Waste Recycling Act, created different regulations and infrastructures for recycling e-waste within the state, it also mandates businesses to dispose all their hazardous e-wastes, comprising of LCD TVs and laptops, computers and other florescent cathode ray tube powered devices, including miscellaneous electronic devices like circuit boards and batteries. However, the office of the district attorney has released a press statement to the effect that those were not the only items illegally deposited in the trash by Target.

The press release states “The waste included items such as electronics, batteries, aerosol cans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and medical waste including syringes, over-the-counter and prescribed pharmaceuticals, as well as confidential medical information from its customers.”

Last year, Target racked in close to $72 billion in revenues, so there’s no way the company is going bankrupt from paying a $7.4 million fine. Note however that, this is the second time Target is been fined for depositing e-waste in the trash. Target paid a $ 22.5 million fine in 2011 and also agreed to ensure that their employees are trained in disposal and management of hazardous waste.