Pep Boys to pay $3.7M for illegally disposing of hazardous waste

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley announced a $3.7 million settlement against The Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack of California (Pep Boys) to resolve allegations that the company violated California state laws governing hazardous waste and hazardous materials by routinely and illegally disposing of automotive fluids, used motor oil and other hazardous wastes into company waste bins destined for municipal landfills not authorized to accept hazardous waste. The lawsuit also resolves allegations that Pep Boys routinely failed to shred customer records containing confidential information before disposing of those items into the trash.

“When businesses like this one illegally dispose of toxic waste, they pollute our natural resources. Substances like motor oil and automotive fluids leach into the soil and the groundwater. They make their way into streams and eventually the San Francisco Bay, poisoning wildlife, and sea life alike,” O’Malley says. “There are good reasons that regulations exist for the disposal of toxic materials, and my office will continue to investigate and bring to justice any business that violates these important environmental protection laws.”

O’Malley previously announced a $9.86 million statewide settlement with O’Reilly’s Auto Parts in November 2016 and an $11 million statewide settlement with AutoZone Inc. in June for similar violations of California’s hazardous waste laws.

Pep Boys is an automotive service retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts, accessories and engine additives in North America. In California, it owns or operates approximately 151 retail facilities and a distribution center.

The investigation of Pep Boys was initiated and led by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Environmental Protection Unit. From April 2014 through November 2017, inspectors from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Environmental Protection Division, investigators from other district attorney offices, and environmental regulators statewide, conducted a series of undercover inspections of waste bins originating at 19 separate Pep Boys facilities. These inspections found numerous instances of unlawful disposal of hazardous waste including automotive fluids, batteries, aerosol cans, electronic devices, used oil, and other regulated hazardous waste. Pep Boys also violated laws protecting vulnerable confidential consumer information by unlawfully disposing of customer records without having rendered personal information unreadable.

When Pep Boys officials were notified by the prosecutors of the unlawful disposals, they fully cooperated and responded to enhance company policies and procedures designed to eliminate the improper disposal of hazardous waste products in California. Stores are required to properly manage hazardous waste and to retain their waste in segregated, labeled containers so as to minimize the risk of exposure to employees and customers. These regulations are also in place to ensure that incompatible wastes do not combine to cause dangerous chemical reactions. Hazardous waste produced by California Pep Boys stores through damage, spills and returns is being collected by state-registered haulers, taken to proper disposal facilities and properly documented and accounted for.

The settlement requires a monetary payment of $3.7 million. This consists of $1.815 million for civil penalties, $260,000 for supplemental environmental projects, and $425,000 for reimbursement of investigative and enforcement costs. Pep Boys gets a credit of $1.2 million against the penalties if it undertakes at least $2.4 million in environmental enhancement work not required by law. In addition, the settlement includes provisions requiring Pep Boys to undergo a trash receptacle audit to ensure hazardous waste and confidential consumer information is properly disposed of at all facilities. The results of the audit must be shared with the public. The company must also comply with 23 injunctive requirements to comply with environmental protection and confidential consumer information protection laws.

Joining O’Malley in this lawsuit were the California district attorneys of Kern, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Ventura and Yolo Counties.