Bay Area telecom company settles over hazardous waste violations

Bay Area prosecutors have reached a $1.3 million settlement with WaveDivision Holdings LLC, a telecom provider. The settlement follows environmental violations discovered during inspections of its facilities. WaveDivision, known as Astound Broadband in California, was found to be sending hazardous waste to local landfills. This waste included electronics, silicone gels, and batteries. The company failed to send this waste to proper hazardous disposal sites, which broke several state laws. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control and multiple county district attorneys conducted the investigation. They revealed that WaveDivision Holdings also did not follow regulations for hazardous materials. This included not having required business plans or proper employee training for handling such waste. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for environmental violations. He thanked the teams involved in the investigation for their collaboration. Contra Costa County District Attorney Diane Becton noted that WaveDivision cooperated during the investigation. Since then, the company has started training programs to improve hazardous waste management and ensure compliance with laws. As part of the settlement, WaveDivision Holdings will pay $875,000 in civil penalties, $300,000 for enforcement costs, and $100,000 for environmental projects.