As part of the agreement, MCR Labs admitted to improperly storing, securing and managing waste containing marijuana.

FRAMINGHAM - A marijuana testing lab on Speen Street will pay a $225,000 fine for improperly trashing glass vials containing marijuana residue in an unsecured dumpster outside the lab.

The state’s Cannabis Control Commission unanimously approved a settlement with MCR Labs in a meeting on Thursday. The commission began negotiating the settlement after considering a suspension of the lab’s license in June.

As part of the agreement, MCR Labs admitted to improperly storing, securing and managing waste containing marijuana, specifically over the course of four days in January when “employees deposited marijuana waste in an unlocked dumpster… not equipped with any locking mechanism.”

The improperly dumped products were discovered by a Framingham police officer who found hundreds of glass vials with marijuana residue in an unlocked dumpster behind MCR Labs while investigating a report about an unoccupied vehicle, prompting city officials to flag the violation for the state.

A commission review of documents relating to 7,520 samples received by the lab between Nov. 1, 2018, and Jan. 23, 2019, found that in addition to improperly disposing of its products, MCR Labs failed to record the manner and location of disposal and failed to ensure two agents supposed to be present during the disposal signed the waste disposal records.

In addition to paying the $225,000 fine, which the company will pay to the CCC in installments over the course of six months, MCR Labs agreed to hire a facility and security manager and a compliance manager.

MCR Labs President Michael Khan said in a statement that the company has fully cooperated with the commission to implement “improved protocols for waste disposal that not only ensure full regulatory compliance, but represent the best practices in the cannabis testing industry.”

“We will continue to advance public health and safety through our analysis of cannabis products,” Khan wrote.

MCR Labs made headlines last year when WBZ reported an employee of the company was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars of medical marijuana testing samples from the lab, a scheme that was uncovered after a Norfolk Agricultural High School student became ill after ingesting some of the product the employee allegedly stole.