WALMART pleads guilty to dumping Hazardous waste, and spreading cancer. Fines go to Gov. Not families

Walmart Pleads Guilty to Dumping Hazardous Waste

by The Associated Press May 29th 2013 6:34AM
Updated May 29th 2013 6:46AM

Damian Dovarganes/APRecycled cardboard boxes are ready for transport outside a Walmart store in Duarte, Calif., on Tuesday, the same day the company pleaded guilty to charges it dumped hazardous waste.

By GREG RISLING and PAUL ELIAS

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ending an environmental investigation that lasted nearly a decade, Walmart has pleaded guilty to improperly disposing of pesticides, fertilizer and other hazardous products and will pay a fine of $81.6 million.

Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT) entered the guilty plea in federal court in San Francisco on Tuesday to misdemeanor counts of violating the Clean Water Actand a law regulating pesticides.

The charges came from Walmart's disposal of hazardous products that had been pulled from store shelves in California and Missouri because of problems like damaged packaging.