Lowe’s to Pay $18.1 Million Settlement for Environmental Violations

FRESNO – District Attorney Elizabeth A. Egan in conjunction with 31 other California District Attorneys and two city attorneys, has announced that a judge in
Northern California has ordered the North Carolina-based Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, to pay $18.1 million as part of a civil settlement for environmental violations.

“Businesses operating in the state of California must dispose of hazardous waste safely and legally,” Egan said. “This settlement will ensure that Lowe’s will comply with
California law related to the management disposal and transportation of hazardous waste in the future. Thanks to the hard work of our Environmental Protection Unit and fellow prosecutors across California, Lowe’s stores in Fresno will no longer be improperly disposing of hazardous waste.”

The judgment is the culmination of a civil enforcement lawsuit filed in Alameda County alleging more than 118 Lowe’s stores throughout the state improperly handled and disposed of hazardous waste and materials over a six and a half year period. The materials illegally disposed of included – pesticides, aerosols, paint and colorants, solvents, adhesives, batteries, mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs, electronic waste and other toxic, ignitable and corrosive materials. There are two Lowe’s stores in Fresno County; both were involved in the hazardous waste violations.

Under the settlement, which includes a permanent injunction against Lowe’s, the company must pay $12.85 million in civil penalties and costs. An additional $2.075 million will fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection enforcement in California, and Lowe’s will fund hazardous waste minimizing projects of $3.175 million.