Tesla is facing a lawsuit from 25 California counties accusing it of mishandling hazardous waste at state facilities, according to a report. complaint filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court. The lawsuit, which seeks civil penalties and an injunction forcing Tesla to properly manage the waste, was filed after months of negotiations that reportedly failed. Civil penalties could be up to $70,000 per violation per day, Reuters reported.
Los Angeles, San Francisco and other counties accused Tesla of mislabeling and disposing of materials at transfer stations or landfills “not licensed to accept hazardous waste.” Waste includes “lubricating oils, brake fluids, lead-acid batteries, aerosols, antifreeze, cleaning fluids, propane, paint, acetone, liquefied petroleum gas, adhesives and diesel fuel,” the complaint states. He adds that Tesla “continues to do so in and/or from its facilities.”
Tesla revealed that it is under investigation by California district attorneys over its waste management during a 2022 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hearing. deposit. It said at the time that it “implemented various corrective measures, including conducting training, audits and improvements to its on-site waste management programs,” according to TechCrunch. He said in October 2023 that he was in settlement talks with district attorneys across California, but these apparently did not bear fruit.
Tesla has already faced legal repercussions over its waste management. In 2019, it reached a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding federal hazardous materials violations. As part of this, Tesla agreed to properly manage waste from its Fremont factory and to pay a fine of $31,000.
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