Comcast Fined $26 Million For Dumping Hazardous Waste, User Info Comcast is facing a double whammy in the state of California after the company was fined for both improperly dumping hazardous waste, and improperly dumping documents that contained private customer information. According to a complaint (pdf) filed last week by California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Comcast spent the last ten years illegally dumping hazardous waste products including remote controls, modems, power adapters and batteries in local landfills that were not permitted to receive these items.

The complaint also notes that Comcast has spent just as long dumping un-shredded and unredacted subscriber information, opening the door to identity theft. Comcast has reached a $26 million settlement (pdf) with the state, including $1.6 million to provide lab equipment for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and $2.25 million in Comcast-funded public service announcements about proper handling of hazardous waste. Comcast also needs to spend at least $700,000 to enhance its environmental compliance policies. “Comcast’s careless and unlawful hazardous waste disposal practices jeopardized the health and environmental well-being of California communities and exposed their customers to the threat of identity theft," said Harris in a prepared statement. Comcast's behavior is not unique. AT&T was fined $24 million for improperly dumping waste last year. Similarly un-shredded, confidential subscriber records from Canadian cable operator Rogers were found strewn around a parking lot back in 2007. “We’re pleased to bring this matter from 2012 to a close and remain committed to the highest standards of environmental compliance," a Comcast spokesman said in a statement. “We’re pleased to bring this matter from 2012 to a close and remain committed to the highest standards of environmental compliance," a Comcast spokesman said in a statement.







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Most recommended from 23 comments

mmay149q

Premium Member

join:2009-03-05

Dallas, TX 6 recommendations mmay149q Premium Member Uhhh "remain committed to the highest standards of environmental compliance"



Is this the same kind of "commitment" they have towards an unmatched customer service experience? Cause if so, we might as well just break up Comcast right now, rioting with guns and everything if need be. smk11

join:2014-11-12 4 recommendations smk11 Member Seize $26M in profit generating assets; stop with pointless fines. How much is all the Comcast corporate locations in CA worth? Seize $26M worth of them and liquidate them. Bonus is you would actually stop the illegal dumping.

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 3 recommendations tshirt Premium Member This product provider, has deep pockets, known to the State of California .. ...to be useful in funding state services. The AG's office thanks them for their involuntary contribution.



I'm fine with going after them when they fail to recycle as required,

But is this fine (and those others on other providers) connected to money the state actual recovering the toxic waste for proper disposal?

Or is it an administrative money grab, with no thought as to remedial action to ACTUALLY protect the environment?



The dumping of un-shredded and unredacted subscriber information is a separate and serious matter and should have been dealt with under consumer/credit/confidentiality laws.