Tesla faces a lawsuit for its alleged mishandling of hazardous waste in California over an extended period of time

Tesla is facing lawsuits from 25 California counties, accusing the automaker of consistently mishandling hazardous waste at its facilities across the state. The lawsuit was initiated following unsuccessful attempts at reaching a settlement through lengthy negotiations.

The complaint, filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court, alleges that Tesla mishandled and improperly disposed of various materials at its production and service facilities throughout the state. These materials include lead acid batteries, paints, brake fluid, aerosols, antifreeze, acetone, diesel fuel, and more. It has been reported that Tesla may have engaged in improper waste disposal practices, both on-site and at landfills that are not equipped to handle hazardous waste.

The district attorneys in each county are pursuing legal action against Tesla, urging them to take responsibility for waste management at their facilities and face appropriate consequences. According to Reuters, the reported lawsuit could potentially result in Tesla facing hefty fines of up to $70,000 per violation per day.

In a 2022 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla made a disclosure about an ongoing investigation by district attorney offices in California regarding its waste management practices. The company stated that it had taken several steps to address the issue, such as providing training, conducting audits, and improving its waste management programs on its site.

In October 2023, the company announced that it was engaged in settlement discussions with the district attorney offices. The lawsuit indicates that the discussions concluded without reaching a resolution. The San Francisco and San Joaquin District Attorney’s offices, who were in charge of the investigation, did not provide any information regarding the outcome of the settlement talks.

Tesla has faced criticism in the past regarding the environmental consequences of its operations in California. In 2019, the company reached a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency due to several violations at its Fremont, California, factory. One of these violations involved the improper labeling of hazardous waste. As a result, a hefty $31,000 fine was imposed, along with an additional $55,000 expenditure to provide essential emergency response equipment for our dedicated first responders. In 2022, Tesla faced a $275,000 fine for breaching the Clean Air Act at their factory.