A home products retailer has agreed to pay a nearly $1.5 million dollar settlement as a result of improperly disposed of hazardous wastes which caused two fires in Ventura County. It led to a statewide investigation.
The case involves charges that Bed, Bath and Beyond employees illegally threw away things like batteries and electronics in dumpsters. Ventura County prosecutors say some of these items led to fires in 2016 at an Oxnard waste transfer facility, and at one of the chain’s Oxnard stores.
Investigators say they found that the chain was regularly sending hazardous wastes to landfill sites around the state.
Prosecutors say when Bed Bath & Beyond was notified, it immediately took steps to cooperate and correct the situation. In a settlement, the chain will pay more than $1.3 million dollars statewide in penalties and reimbursement of prosecution costs. The Ventura County DA’s Office will get just over $250,000, and the Oxnard Fire Department $10,000.
