Solano County DA Joins Complaint Against Sally Beauty Supply

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — Allegations that Sally Beauty Supply stores in Solano and more than three dozen other California counties improperly stored and disposed of products that pose a risk to the environment have been settled, it was announced Friday.

The settlement agreement that was reached requires the beauty supplies retailer to pay more than $1.9 million in civil penalties, supplemental environmental projects, and costs.

The settlement is the culmination of a civil enforcement investigation by Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams and 40 other district attorneys across California.

According to the complaint, aerosol products, nail polish, cleaning agents, and other flammable, toxic, and corrosive materials were unlawfully transported to area landfills instead of being taken to authorized hazardous waste disposal sites.

In Solano County, Sally Beauty Supply operated stores and other facilities in Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville Travis Air Force Base at the time of the lawsuit was filed. It was unclear whether these locations were under investigation.

Under the settlement, Sally Beauty Supply LLC and its sister business Beauty Systems Group LLC must pay $1.6 million in civil penalties, $289,982 in costs, and $25,000 in supplemental environmental projects, according to the DA offices. Of those amounts, Solano County will receive $140,472 from civil penalties and $1,335 in costs.

Sally Beauty Supply must also implement certain compliance assurance programs.

Sally Beauty Supply LLC and Beauty Systems Group LLC operate under the Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. umbrella. Patch reached out to the parent company Friday for comment but did not get an immediate response.

According to the DA offices, the companies have cooperated during the investigation and have adopted and implemented new policies and procedures. They also have enhanced existing training programs designed to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste products and confidential consumer information.

The complaint was filed in San Joaquin County.

Note: For consumers concerned about disposing of beauty products that may be hazardous, like aerosols, nail polish, nail polish remover, and others, visit the "Managing Hazardous Waste" page on the California Department of Toxic Substances Control website.