Wal-Mart, the largest retail chain in the world, will now have to pay $110 million after pleading guilty yesterday to several criminal charges for the "incorrect disposal" of fertilizers, pesticides and other hazardous products in the states of California and Missouri.

As a result of three criminal cases filed by the Justice Department and a related civil suit filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wal-Mart will pay approximately $ 81.6 million for illicit behavior, according to the EPA in a statement.

In addition, the giant retailer will also have to deal with the previous actions filed by the states of California and Missouri for the same conduct, and will end up paying a total of $ 110 million for environmental violations at federal and state levels.

According to documents filed before a Federal District Court in San Francisco, from an unknown date until January 2006, Wal-Mart did not have a training program for its employees in the proper handling and disposal practices of hazardous waste.

"By mishandling hazardous waste, pesticides and other materials in violation of federal laws, Wal-Mart put the public and the environment at risk and took an unfair advantage economically against other companies," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice for Environment and Natural Resources Division.

A statewide investigation began eight years ago, when an employee of the Department of Health in San Diego County saw one of Wal-Mart's employee's pour bleach down a drain.

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Editorial@Sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@Sandiegored.com