One more reason not to shop at Target 1.) It’s expensive 2.) No Customer Service 3.) They illegally dump toxic ingredients into our waste streams. And no, I don’t think this solves the problem, they will continue to dump.. and litter products.
A judge in Oakland has ordered Minnesota based Target Corporation to pay $22.5 million as part of a lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit filed against the corporation claims more than 290 target stores and distribution centers in California handled and disposed hazardous wastes and materials improperly.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey explained, “A number of hazardous wastes, paint solvents, chlorine, if those broke or if customers would return those back, they would just be dumped into the dumpsters. These were extremely toxic hazardous materials that were taken to local landfills that couldn’t handle it.”
The Target store in Chico was one of those involved in the investigation. The multi million dollar settlement will cover civil penalties and costs, and will fund several supplemental environmental projects.
“Here we’re looking at about $72,000 for Butte County District Attorney’s Office and $25,000 for Butte County Public Health, which did the initial investigation of the local Chico Target store.”
This should be NO SURPRISE to anyone who works for Target. Target has a habit of handling its waste products (toxic or otherwise) in an irresponsible manner. There are about 49 other states who could benefit from doing this same sort of investigation. California was just the first to make anything stick due to their more strict environmental laws.
After this story broke there was a huge rush to announce sweeping new trash and damage procedures in the particular Target facility I work at. Even to the point of changing that way that donated items are collected. It has Target so scared that the threat of losing our jobs was made several times during the rollout of the new procedures.
It has been my experience and I have seen firsthand how Target not only throws out things irresponsibly, but also donates them irresponsibly. The joke at our facility is that Target never really throws anything away, they just make a pile of it, figure out what it would be worth if it were not broken, wrap it up in plastic, slap a “DONATE” label on it and then pass it off to someone else who than has to figure out the appropriate way to dispose of it – all while Target gives themselves a great big hug and puts out a few press releases about how much they support their local communities with all their “donations” – Its enough to make you sick.
I really hope that other states will follow suit and look into what Target mat be dumping with a smile in their landfills. The only reason that they may be following the rules now is because it was made more expensive not to. Their environmental policies are a joke, and if it were not for the big $$$ that is spent propagandizing for the Target image, most people would come to know Target as little more than Wal-Mart in red. Once you get to know them, there really is no difference.