Menards fined for illegal dumping

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has ordered Menards Inc. to pay $30,000 in forfeitures, court costs and attorney fees for illegal hazardous waste disposal at its store in Onalaska, Wis. 

According to a press release, the incident happened in January 2007 when a pallet of containers of herbicide were allowed to freeze and crack open. Instead of properly packing the leaking containers into leak-proof containers for safe and legal disposal, Menards staff illegally disposed of the herbicide by dumping it onto a snow-covered island in the parking lot in front of the Onalaska store, the state’s Attorney General said.

In addition to the $30,000 fine, the home improvement retailer retained a consultant to perform an investigation of the site where the herbicide was disposed. Menards has also sent a posting to all of its store managers to remind them that all staff must comply with appropriate measures for packing and disposal of any defective or damaged containers of pesticides or herbicides.