AT&T will pay $23.8 million to resolve allegations that hundreds of AT&T’s California facilities unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste and material over a nine-year period.
AT&T will spend an additional $28 million over the next five years to implement the enhanced environmental compliance measures required by the settlement.
The settlement and proposed judgment, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, requires approval from the court before becoming final.
AT&T was represented by Deborah Schmall of Paul Hastings in San Francisco.
“This settlement holds AT&T accountable for unlawfully dumping electronic waste,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said. “The illegal disposal of hazardous waste can lead to serious environmental and health risks for California communities. AT&T will be required to implement strict compliance measures at its facilities that set an example for other companies to safeguard our communities against hazardous waste.”
This is the first enforcement action in California against a telecommunications company for its management of electronic waste.
The enforcement action claims that more than 235 AT&T warehouse and dispatch facilities throughout the state unlawfully handled and disposed of various hazardous wastes and materials over a nine-year period.
Those hazardous wastes and materials primarily consisted of electronic equipment, batteries, aerosol cans, as well as certain gels, liquids and other items used by AT&T service technicians in delivering telephone, Internet and video services to residential and business customers in California.
In 2011, inspectors from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Environmental Protection Division and investigators from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control conducted a series of waste inspections of dumpsters belonging to AT&T warehouse and dispatch facilities.
The inspections revealed that AT&T was routinely and systematically sending hazardous wastes to local landfills that were not permitted to receive those wastes.
There are 13 AT&T facilities in Alameda County and all 13 facilities were found to be unlawfully disposing hazardous waste.
If approved by the court, under the final judgment, AT&T must pay $18.8 million in civil penalties and costs.
An additional $3 million will fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection and environmental enforcement in California, and AT&T will pay a minimum of $2 million to enhance its environmental compliance.
The telecom provider will be bound under the terms of a permanent injunction prohibiting similar future violations of law.