Goodwill settles with Sacramento DA’s Office over hazardous materials

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced a settlement with Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada for the mishandling of hazardous materials and waste.

The civil case, also involving the district attorneys of Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Shasta, Sutter and Yolo counties, ended with Goodwill having to pay $200,000 in costs and penalties, implementing an enhanced compliance program and hiring a compliance manager.

The source of the complaint was “that Goodwill failed to adequately train Goodwill employees and improperly transported and disposed of hazardous waste,” according to a release issued Friday from the District Attorney’s Office. Some of the hazardous items involved in the suit included Goodwill’s maintenance materials and donated materials such as light bulbs, pesticides, lighters, old medications, cleaning products and unusable cosmetics.

Goodwill cooperated with the investigation and has begun screening donations prior to accepting items, so as to not received items classified as hazardous.

With 60 locations in Sacramento county and 30 locations in surrounding counties, Goodwill sites are implementing procedures outlined in the settlement across the area. However, recent financial constraints due to the coronavirus have caused the company to close most of their Donation Xpress locations in the region.

“When people donate items to organizations like Goodwill, it is important they follow the guidelines regarding what can be accepted. Goodwill does not accept cosmetics, household pesticides or chemicals, spray cans, or paint,” Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said in prepared remarks.