The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, in unison with 36 other prosecutors throughout the state, has filed a civil lawsuit against Walgreen Co., seeking a preliminary injunction ordering the company to cease routinely and systematically dumping hazardous wastes illegally into the environment.

The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court on June 18, claims that more than 600 Walgreen Co. stores throughout the state improperly handled and disposed of various hazardous wastes and materials over a six and a half-year period. These wastes include pesticides, bleach, paint, aerosols, automotive products and solvents, pharmaceutical and biohazardous wastes and other toxic, ignitable and corrosive materials. All 32 Walgreen Co. stores in Alameda County were involved in the hazardous waste violations.

“The mishandling and unlawful disposal of toxic chemicals and pollutants pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our residents,” City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said. “This wasn’t an isolated incident. Walgreen’s actions were systematic and statewide, and the company must be held accountable.”

California hazardous waste law requires companies to carefully store, handle and dispose of hazardous wastes and materials. Prosecutors contend that Walgreen Co. systematically ignored environmental laws to cut costs, alleging that employees improperly stored, handled and disposed of hazardous waste and pharmaceutical waste products into company commercial trash bins. Rather than separating the hazardous waste and properly disposing of it at authorized disposal sites as required by law, Walgreen Co. directed its hazardous waste to area landfills illegally, eventually leeching into and contaminating the local soil and groundwater.

In a separate allegation, Walgreen Co. allegedly unlawfully disposed of customer records containing confidential medical information without preserving the confidentiality of the information. Companies in possession of medical information are required by law to protect the privacy of their customers’ confidential medical information. The lawsuit alleges that Walgreen Co. failed to take proper steps to preserve the confidentiality of their pharmacy customers.

Officials are requesting that Walgreen’s be required to manage its hazardous waste and hazardous materials lawfully, maintain the confidentiality of medical information as required by law, and be liable for civil penalties that result from their violations.