The country's largest retailer pleaded guilty to six counts of violating the Clean water Act. The retailer was found guilty and fined over 110 million dollars for the illegal disposing of fertilizer , bleach and pesticide compounds into the sewer system, among other environmental violations.
The U.S Justice system in 2013 also found the retailer guilty of violating the federal law by mixing pesticides together at a Missouri recycling facility, before reselling them in an illegal process, violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
The guilty charge ended years of court battles pitching the giant retailer against the U.S Environmental agencies over the company's illegal dumping. The suits were brought by the state of California after a San Diego County Health Department inspector found a Walmart employee dumping bleach into a sewer drain. In a separate instance, investigators found a young boy playing near a Walmart garden section in a pool of fertilizer that contained ammonium sulphate, a compound that caused a severe irritation on people's skin, respiratory tracts and the eyes.
"The crimes in these cases stem from Walmart's failure to comply with the regulations designed to ensure the proper handling, storage, and disposal of those hazardous materials and waste," stated U.S Attorney for Northern California Melinda Haag. Walmart, being the largest retailer in the U.S is not only responsible for the basic commodities that are on its shelves but also the harmful and toxic substances that it emits in their production and maintenance.
The legal issues, however, did not make a significant dent on the company's finances. In 2012 alone, the company recorded 120 billion dollars in revenues. They have, however, prompted the retailer to take new steps in ensuring that toxic waste is properly handled. After the allegations, the company put in place a program that trains employees on how to handle waste. The retailer also created a compliance office to check on compliance.
