Tesla Have to Pay $1.5 million for hazardous waste lawsuit in California

Tesla has reached a settlement of $1.5 million in a California case where it was accused of mislabeling hazardous waste and disposing of it in landfills that are not equipped to handle such materials.

Tesla has reached a settlement after 25 California counties took legal action against the automaker for its handling of waste materials. The company has agreed to pay a $1.3 million civil penalty and provide $200,000 to reimburse the counties for the expenses incurred during the investigation. A lawsuit was settled on Thursday by Judge Jayne Lee in San Joaquin County state court. The lawsuit claimed that Tesla had been violating hazardous waste laws at 101 facilities across California, including its Fremont factory.

TeslaPhoto byreuters

In a recent lawsuit, it has been alleged that Tesla has been mislabeling various types of waste, including diesel fuel, paint materials, lubricating oils, brake fluids, and used lead-acid batteries. These materials were reportedly sent to landfills that are not equipped to handle such waste. Nine violations have been identified in the suit, covering a range of waste-related issues such as disposal, handling, transportation, and employee training.

Tesla, in response to the lawsuit, did not admit any wrongdoing. However, the company has agreed to the settlement amount and has expressed its commitment to improving waste management practices. As part of this effort, Tesla will be hiring a third-party auditor to oversee its waste handling for the next five years. In a recent announcement, the automaker revealed that it has taken proactive measures to enhance its waste screening process.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that, despite the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, their manufacturing and servicing processes still produce numerous harmful waste streams, according to Reuters.

Here is a list of the 25 California counties that have filed lawsuits against Tesla:

• San Joaquin County
• Alameda County
• Butte County
• Contra Costa County
• Fresno County
• Kern County
• Los Angeles County
• Marin County
• Monterey County
• Orange County
• Placer County
• Riverside County
• Sacramento County
• San Bernardino County
• San Diego County
• San Francisco County
• San Luis Obispo County
• San Mateo County
• Santa Barbara County
• Santa Clara County
• Solano County
• Sonoma County
• Stanislaus County
• Tulare County
• Ventura County

In addition to previous environmental lawsuits, Tesla recently settled a case in California for $1 million. The lawsuit, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), accused the automaker of air quality violations at its Fremont paint shop.

The Source: teslarati