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The lawsuit from Los Angeles, Alameda, San Joaquin, San
Francisco and other counties was filed on Tuesday in California
state court. It seeks civil penalties and an injunction that
would require the company to properly handle its waste in the
future.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The counties accused Tesla of violating state unfair business
and hazardous waste management laws by improperly labeling waste
and sending the materials to landfills that cannot accept
hazardous material. California's hazardous waste management law
carries potential civil penalties as high as $70,000 per
violation per day.
Waste produced or handled at the facilities includes paint
materials, brake fluids, used batteries, antifreeze and diesel
fuel, the counties said.
The lawsuit claims that violations have occurred at as many as
101 facilities, including at Tesla's manufacturing plant in
Fremont.
Spokespeople for the counties did not immediately provide
additional details about the case.
The lawsuit is not the first time Tesla has faced allegations
related to its hazardous waste management practices.
The company reached a settlement in 2019 with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency over alleged federal hazardous
waste violations at its Fremont plant. In that deal, Tesla
agreed to take steps to properly manage waste at the facility
and pay a $31,000 fine.
Tesla later reached a deal with the EPA in 2022 in which it
agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty after the federal agency said
the company was failing to keep records and to implement plans
to minimize air pollutants from painting operations at the
Fremont plant.
(Reporting by Clark Mindock; Editing by David Bario and Mark
Porter)
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