A group of 25 California counties has sued Elon Musk’s Tesla, accusing the electric car maker of mishandling hazardous waste at its facilities in the state.
The lawsuits from Los Angeles, Alameda, San Joaquin, San Francisco and other counties were filed Tuesday in California state court. The company is seeking civil penalties and an injunction that would require it to properly dispose of its waste in the future.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The counties accused Tesla of violating the state’s Unfair Business Practices Act and Hazardous Waste Management Act by improperly labeling the waste and sending the material to landfills that cannot accept hazardous materials. California’s Hazardous Waste Management Act can result in civil penalties of as much as $70,000 per day for each violation.
The waste generated or processed at the facility includes paint materials, brake fluid, used batteries, antifreeze, diesel fuel and more, according to the county.
The complaint alleges violations occur at 101 facilities, including Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont. Spokespeople for each county did not immediately provide additional details about the incident.
The lawsuit is not the first time Tesla has faced allegations related to its hazardous waste management practices.
The company reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019 over alleged federal hazardous waste violations at its Fremont plant. In that agreement, Tesla agreed to take steps to properly manage waste within its facilities. and pay a $31,000 fine..
Tesla subsequently filed a lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2022 after federal officials alleged it failed to maintain records and implement plans to minimize air pollutants from paint operations at its Fremont factory. They reached an agreement and agreed to pay a penalty of $275,000.
Source: www.theguardian.com
