UPS Ordered To Pay Riverside County After Alleged Illegal Disposal Of Hazardous Waste

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — United Parcel Service, Inc., and its affiliates were ordered to pay $1.745 million stemming from alleged statewide environmental violations — including in Riverside County — it was announced Monday.

The judgment "is the result of an investigation into the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and medical waste by UPS over the last several years at its 140 facilities, including the 10 facilities in Riverside County," according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

The civil lawsuit alleged that UPS unlawfully disposed of hazardous and medical waste in regular trash bins and transported it to local landfills not permitted to receive such items. The waste included, but was not limited to, ignitable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive materials, and items containing Drug Facts, the DA's office said.

Under the settlement, UPS must pay $1.4 million in civil penalties, $140,000 in cost reimbursement, and $205,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (projects that provide an environmental or public health benefit).

Riverside County will receive $230,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 in cost recovery as part of the settlement.

According to the Riverside County DA's Office, UPS cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation and has since implemented improved waste management practices and employee training to improve the company's handling of California-regulated hazardous waste and medical waste.

Patch reached out to UPS for comment. This story will be updated with a response.

The Riverside County DA's Office joined with 44 California district attorneys to announce the judgment. The DA’s offices involved in the UPS investigation included Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Yolo. The judgment was filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court.