Tesla has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a California county over hazardous waste violations at its factories in the state. The violations have been blamed on careless handling of hazardous chemicals such as paint and used batteries, but CEO Elon Musk says what America really needs to go green is a carbon tax. claims.
Reuters report Tesla has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 25 California counties alleging the electric car maker mishandled hazardous waste at its facilities in the state.
Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk speaks via video link at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The second annual Qatar Economic Forum will bring together global business leaders and heads of state to address the following issues: Uncovering the world’s most pressing challenges through the lens of the Middle East.Photographer: Christopher Pike/Bloomberg
The settlement was approved Thursday in San Joaquin County state court, just two days after the county sued Tesla. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla improperly labeled waste such as paint, used batteries and diesel fuel at its California facility. The company also allegedly sent it to a landfill that was not equipped to handle hazardous materials.
Tesla has not admitted wrongdoing, but agreed to pay a $1.3 million civil fine and $200,000 to the county for investigation costs. The company will also take steps to properly dispose of its waste and will hire an independent auditor to examine its waste practices over the next five years.
“While electric vehicles have the potential to benefit the environment, their manufacturing and servicing still creates many hazardous waste streams,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement.
The counties said Tesla is cooperating with the investigation and have already begun isolating and testing the waste.
The lawsuit alleges that up to 101 Tesla facilities, including the Fremont manufacturing plant, violated state laws regarding unfair business practices and hazardous waste management.
In 2019, Tesla reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over federal hazardous waste issues at its Fremont factory. The company agreed to pay a $31,000 fine and improve waste management.
In 2022, Tesla paid a $275,000 fine to the EPA for failing to minimize air pollutants from paint operations at its Fremont facility.
Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk expressed complete agreement with the WEF that what the world really needs is another carbon tax. As Breitbart News reported today:
“The only action we need to solve climate change is a carbon tax,” Musk said in a recent tweet.
Conservatives, including those who hail Musk as a free speech hero, quickly voiced opposition to his position on a carbon tax that would likely benefit Tesla.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship issues.
