United Parcel Service, Inc. and its affiliates have been ordered to pay $17.45 million in civil penalties and related costs following a statewide investigation into the inappropriate disposal of hazards and medical waste at more than 140 facilities in California, authorities announced Monday.
The settlement comes from a civil lawsuit filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court and involves a coalition of 45 district attorneys’ offices throughout the state. According to prosecutors, UPS and its subsidiaries, including UPS Supply Chain Solutions and UPS General Services, have violated state environmental laws and sent to landfills that are not permitted to receive such material by disposing of hazardous and medical waste in regular trash cans.
Waste is said to have contained ignitable, toxic, reactive and corrosive substances, along with items containing over-the-counter drug ingredients listed under the “Drug Facts” label.
The verdict was officially entered on July 25th, 2025. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestlin, who played a leading role in the multi-agency investigation, has released the results along with district attorneys from San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Yolo and other counties.
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“This settlement will help UPS take responsibility for past handling of dangerous goods and ensure better public health and the environment,” Hestrin said in a statement.
As part of the settlement, UPS will pay $1.4 million, a fee refund of $140,000 and $205,000 for an environmental project designed to support environmental enforcement and education. Riverside County will receive $230,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 in cost recovery.
Prosecutors said UPS has cooperated with the investigation and has since implemented improvements to waste management protocols. These include training employees and measures to ensure that hazards and medical waste are correctly labeled, separated and disposed of in compliance with state regulations.
Like all California businesses, UPS is legally necessary to treat hazardous and medical waste in accordance with strict guidelines to prevent chemical reactions from substances that are incompatible with environmental harm.
Deputy District Attorney Lauren R. Martineau, Riverside County Environmental Protection Team, handled the case on behalf of the county.
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