Family Dollar Stores to pay penalty in hazardous waste case

Family Dollar Stores Inc. has been ordered by a San Joaquin County judge to pay $307,000 in civil penalties and other costs in a statewide case involving improper handling of hazardous waste.

Of the total amount in civil penalties, costs and education for environmental enforcement personnel, $5,400 will be paid to Tulare County and $4,800 will be paid to Fresno County, the district attorney’s offices said. The settlement involved 21 other California district attorneys and two city attorneys.

The North Carolina corporation was told of the violations, cooperated with the investigation and put in place an improved hazardous waste compliance program that properly trains employees in California in all facets of handling retail hazardous waste.

In contrast to similar cases, Family Dollar Stores unlawfully disposed of only limited hazardous wastes, according to a news release. Improvements were made at each of the company’s more than 128 facilities in California, authorities said.

The Sacramento Bee contributed to this story.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Family Dollar Stores to pay penalty in hazardous waste case."