Stores throughout the State improperly handled and disposed of hazardous wastes
Press Release | Complaint | Stipulation
Woodland, CA – April 23 2019 – Last Thursday, Yolo County Superior Court Judge Stephen L. Mock ordered Party City Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to pay $878,750.00 as part of a settlement of a civil-environmental prosecution. Over $75,000.00 of this amount will help support various environmental training projects, including the prosecution of environmental violations. This resolution was a direct result of the work of local regulatory agencies, 36 other California District and City Attorneys, and Party City.
According to the District Attorneys’ complaint, Party City Corporation mishandled various hazardous wastes and materials throughout the state over a five-year period. These hazardous wastes and materials included batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, and other flammable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive materials. The settlement resolves the allegations made in the District and City Attorneys’ complaint.
“Today’s settlement resolves this matter with Party City. To Party City’s credit, they were cooperative throughout our investigation and prosecution while we worked toward a fair resolution to their previous deficiencies,” said District Attorney Reisig. “The terms of this settlement require this company to improve the training of their staff and the management of their hazardous waste.”
At the start of the investigation, Yolo County regulators found the company’s documentation of employee hazardous-waste training was incomplete and regulated wastes were commonly disposed of improperly. A statewide check confirmed these deficiencies were systemic.
The judgment announced today was designed to prevent Party City stores from committing similar hazardous-waste violations in the future. The judgment requires Party City to properly label, package, and store hazardous waste to minimize the risk of exposure to employees and customers, and to ensure that incompatible wastes do not combine to cause dangerous chemical reactions. The judgment also requires the company to properly document their hazardous waste and dispose of their hazardous waste at authorized disposal facilities.
Under the settlement, the Party City must pay $637,500 in civil penalties, $135,000 to reimburse the costs of the investigation, and $106,250 to fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection and environmental enforcement in California. Party City Corporation must also hire an employee to strengthen the companies’ hazardous-waste programs.
Party City and Halloween City has/had stores in the Woodland and Davis.
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