Tesla Sanctioned $1.5 Million in California for Improper Handling of Hazardous Waste

Feb 08, 2024 04:07 AM EST

Tesla has agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine to settle a California lawsuit. Its mishandling of hazardous materials in the state resulted to this lawsuit. On Tuesday, District Attorneys representing eight counties in the Bay Area, along with 17 other California District Attorneys, filed a lawsuit against Tesla.

Tesla to Pay Fine for Improper Handling of Hazardous Waste

Mercury News stated that in addition to the fines, Tesla has agreed to abide by a five-year injunction that requires staff training and the hiring of outside investigators to perform yearly evaluations of their hazardous waste management procedures.

According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the resolution reached with Tesla, Inc. aims to safeguard the state's valuable natural resources from contamination resulting from improper handling and unlawful disposal of hazardous waste, thus promoting a cleaner environment for all citizens.

Yahoo News shared Fox KTVU report, Lauren Weston, Executive Director of Acterra, a non-profit environmental action group not associated with the case, noted that lawmakers generally view protecting the planet as a crucial matter in most situations.

Additionally, the prosecution stated that Tesla improperly disposed of hazardous material at its Fremont factory, energy centers, and vehicle repair shops. San Francisco and 24 other county district attorneys around the state joined the action, which was started in San Joaquin County.

As a result, Tesla has been directed to pay $1 .3 million in civil penalties along with $200,000 to cover the investigation expenses.

The Investigation

The inquiry commenced in 2018 when D.A. Jenkins initiated covert inspections of Tesla's waste receptacles at car service centers. Investigators discovered various items, including batteries, oils, paint, brake cleaners, and electronic waste, which were improperly disposed of.

Upon disclosure of the findings, District Attorneys from other counties conducted inspections, uncovered comparable conditions, and subsequently joined the lawsuit.

Weston remarked, the manufacturing process of vehicles can generate by-products, and if these by-products are not disposed of correctly, they can pose a threat to wildlife, aquatic life, drinking water, and natural habitats. This impacts us all.

Over the next five years, Tesla's compliance measures will entail adequately training employees and conducting annual waste audits at 10 percent of its facilities. KTVU attempted to contact Tesla for comment, but they did not respond by the time of this report.

Additionally to the $275,000 Tesla paid the Environmental Protection Agency in 2022 for exceeding toxic emissions limits at its Fremont assembly plant, the settlement has been reached. UPI News shared that last year, the Political Economic Research Institute included Tesla among the top 100 global air polluters in 2023.

Tesla's Environmental Law Incompliance

According to CNBC's report in 2021, the EPA accused Tesla of inadequately demonstrating compliance with federal emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants.

Additionally, German authorities imposed a fine of 12 million euros on Tesla for purportedly neglecting their responsibilities regarding the return of old batteries from customers. Tesla defended itself in the U.S. and Germany against allegations of violating environmental rules and regulations, as stated in a recent financial filing.