Tractor Supply Co. to pay $485,400 in hazardous waste settlement

A major home improvement and agriculture retail chain will have to pay nearly half a million dollars as part of a hazardous waste settlement.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced Thursday that Yolo County Superior Court Judge Samuel McAdam has ordered Tractor Supply Company, Inc., and one of its subsidiaries to pay $485,400 as part of a settlement in a civil-environmental prosecution.

According to the complaint, Tractor Supply Company (TSC) and its subsidiary, Petsense, Inc., unlawfully handled and disposed of various hazardous wastes and materials throughout the state over a five-year period.

Investigators determined that pesticides, medications, batteries, ignitable liquids and other flammable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive materials were mishandled by TSC and Petsense.

Regulators also found the documentation of employee hazardous waste training to be incomplete.

Tractor Supply and Petsense cooperated throughout the investigation and responded quickly to enhance their policies and procedures designed to eliminate the improper disposal of hazardous waste products in California stores.

There is one Tractor Supply Company store in Santa Barbara County, located at 221 East Highway 246 in Buellton.

Tractor Supply Company will pay $1,250 in civil costs and penalties to Santa Barbara County as part of the settlement.