Makeup retail giant Sephora will pay $775,000 to several California cities and counties for allegedly improperly disposing of its beauty products.
The settlement was reached with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with 24 district and city attorney offices, according to a news release from the Sacramento County DA.
“Under the terms of the settlement, Sephora will pay $550,000 in civil penalties, $200,000 in cost recovery and $25,000 to the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account managed by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento County will receive $77,730 of the combined penalties and costs,” the DA’s Office said.
Under California law, damaged, returned, and expired cosmetics which are discarded by commercial entities may be treated as hazardous waste. The complaint alleged Sephora failed to properly determine which discarded items were used, expired, or recalled. Sephora was also accused of mishandling transportation and failing to keep adequate records of waste management.