Hazardous Waste Disposal Issues Still Haunt Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart seems to have a hard time abiding by hazardous waste disposal laws. Despite the company’s efforts to appear environmentally sustainable, Wal-Mart’s hazardous materials are becoming an ongoing problem - be it with disposal or in products like toys.

The company’s latest problem handling hazardous substances is in the “show me” state. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has sent a violation notice to Wal-Mart over the company’s hazardous waste disposal practices. In this case, Wal-Mart hired an agriculture products recycling outfit to handle products which should have been handled as hazardous waste. In short, Wal-Mart tried to recycle hazardous agricultural products, instead of a using a more expensive - and mandatory by law - hazardous waste disposal contractor. From the Wall Street Journal:

The Bentonville, Ark., retailer said the allegations were the result of an inspection by the agency of a third-party contractor’s plant in Missouri, according to its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Wal-Mart Stores said it contracted with the third-party to recycle agricultural products and materials. The company said the Missouri claim alleges that Wal-Mart provided certain items to the third-party contractor for recycling that should have been managed as hazardous waste.

This is not the first time Wal-Mart has tried to skirt hazardous waste laws through questionable disposal policies. Wal-Mart is currently subject to a massive investigation in the State of California and the State of Nevada over its hazardous waste disposal policies. You can read more about Wal-Mart’s hazardous waste disposal problems in our Hazardous Waste Fact Sheet (PDF) and environmental white paper (PDF).

Posted by Research Team on Tuesday, April 01, 2008

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COMMENTS

I am a Michigan corrections officer. My local told us that we should not shop at Walmart. They told us that we should look at walmartwatch.com. After looking at walmartwatch.com, I have learned that my union dues are being used to make Walmart a better corporate citizen. Since I am not supposed to shop at Walmart, could you tell me why my hard earned union dues are being used to help Walmart and employees? That is not how I want my union dues to be used.

Officer Tami in Somewhere, MI
Tuesday, April 01 at 04:40 PM

Officer Tami,

“Since I am not supposed to shop at Walmart, could you tell me why my hard earned union dues are being used to help Walmart and employees?”

We have often wondered the same thing!! But, it all boils down to the unions wanting to PRESSURE Wal-Mart into unionizing their associates, so the union can ‘collect’ even more dues, to spend to go after maybe Target next!! And, after they get Wal-Mart’s 1.5 million employees, you can guess where their ‘bargaining’ efforts will be focused!!

A question: Do you really think the union gives a rat’s butt about whether or not Wal-Mart, ‘Goes Green’, etc.? But, here they are, spending your union dues to pretend to care!!

RDS in
Tuesday, April 01 at 06:11 PM

Officer Tami: Why don’t you find a non union job?

ddrb in
Wednesday, April 02 at 08:10 AM

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