Wal-Mart Socked With Huge Eco-Fine

Wal-Mart has agreed to pay an $82M fine for improper disposal of hazardous wastes such as fertilizer and bleach. The cases were filed by the DOJ in California and Missouri.

As part of the California plea agreement, Wal-Mart is set to pay a $40 million criminal fine and to pay $20 million to fund community service projects including helping U.S. retailers learn how to properly handle hazardous waste. As part of the Missouri plea agreement, Wal-Mart is set to pay an $11 million criminal fine and to pay $3 million to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Wal-Mart also plans to pay a $7.628 million civil penalty to the federal government. In 2006, Wal-Mart put an environmental compliance program into place that it says has helped to rectify such issues.