EPA, Whole Foods Reach $3.5-Million Settlement in Hazardous Waste Action
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a
settlement with Whole Foods Inc. after a year-long investigation into the
company’s hazardous-waste disposal at facilities in five states. According
to EPA, the investigation uncovered that Whole Foods did not properly
make hazardous waste determinations—as required by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act—and mishandled spent lamps. Under
the settlement terms, Whole Foods will correct the violations, pay $3.5
million and “promote hazardous waste compliance in the retail industry
as part of a supplemental environmental project.” That project will aim
to educate Texas retailers—”particularly smaller businesses”—about
hazardous waste laws and the importance of maintaining compliance.
“All companies must follow the law and be responsible stewards of their
hazardous waste, from generating it to safely disposing of it,” an EPA
administrator was quoted as saying in a September 20, 2016, press
release. “Whole Foods is correcting these violations and will ensure their
stores and facilities continue to comply with environmental regulations.
They will also look into launching an innovative hazardous waste
tracking system that we hope becomes the industry standard.”
Issue 618
