The Ritz-Carlton Fined $535,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations in California

The Ritz-Carlton Logo

Environmental regulations have long been non-negotiable, and luxury hotel brands are no exception. In 2022, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, renowned for its high-end accommodations, faced a $535,000 civil penalty for mishandling hazardous waste across its eight California properties, including its Rancho Mirage location in Riverside County.

Court Judgment Highlights Mismanagement

A judgment issued by the Riverside County Superior Court on August 8, 2022, revealed years of improper hazardous waste disposal. Investigators found that, rather than ensuring batteries, electronics, aerosol products, and other toxic materials were sent to authorised facilities, the company had allowed these items to end up in landfills unequipped to handle them.

Multi-county Legal Action

The lawsuit, brought by the District Attorneys from Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Placer, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, alongside the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, exposed repeated environmental violations. The court ordered The Ritz-Carlton to pay $400,000 in civil penalties, $35,000 in cost reimbursements, and $100,000 to support environmental enforcement projects in California.

Riverside County Benefits from Settlement

As part of the settlement, Riverside County received $91,000 in penalties and $14,513 in reimbursement, while the county’s Department of Environmental Health was allocated an additional $8,000.

Company Implements Corrective Measures

Following the lawsuit, The Ritz-Carlton implemented changes to its hazardous waste management systems. The company began using state-registered haulers to transport waste to authorised facilities and introduced improved training programs to ensure compliance.

A Reminder for All Brands

Although these measures signalled progress, the the costly oversight emphasised that environmental accountability is a legal requirement for all industries, including luxury hospitality.


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judge orders the ritz-carlton hotel company to pay $535,000 in penalties and costs for environmental violations

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