Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the District Attorneys’ Offices of Alameda County and San Mateo County, announced a settlement with Frontier California, Inc. for illegal disposal and mismanagement of hazardous waste. The settlement requires Frontier to pay $3.5 million in penalties, costs, and supplemental environmental projects. Additionally, the company must implement significant operational changes to comply with state law.

Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “For years, Frontier’s careless and unlawful hazardous waste disposal practices jeopardized the health and environmental well-being of California communities. Today’s settlement holds them accountable for breaking the law and implements strict measures to prevent them from putting Californians and our environment at risk in the future.”

Carlos Guzman from the Alameda County District Attorney's Office expressed optimism about Frontier's cooperation: “The illegal disposal of hazardous waste puts our environment, workers and communities at risk and violates California law. We are encouraged that Frontier cooperated with the district attorneys’ and Attorney General’s offices in taking decisive action to address the alleged past violations and to protect against future problems.”

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe emphasized ongoing vigilance: "My office remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure that those who commit offenses that are harmful to the environment are brought to justice. This settlement should put others on notice that district attorneys and the Attorney General will continue to work together to investigate and prosecute violations against our environment."

The settlement follows over 12 inspections conducted between 2011 and 2013 at ten facilities previously owned by Verizon California, Inc., where more than 300 potentially hazardous items were found improperly disposed of in regular trash dumpsters. These actions allegedly violated both the Hazardous Waste Control Law (HWCL) and Unfair Competition Law.

Frontier is required to pay $2.8 million in civil penalties, $450,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs, $250,000 for supplemental environmental projects supporting enforcement efforts, plus at least $500,000 toward compliance measures ensuring legal adherence. The Attorney General’s Office will receive $1.6 million from this total.

Injunctive terms mandate that Frontier properly manage hazardous waste over a minimum five-year period through storage improvements, employee training on waste management, conducting independent audits, as well as labeling inspections before waste reaches recycling facilities or landfills.

A complaint detailing these terms is available pending court approval.