Nestlé faces €750,000 fine over alleged illegal landfills in France

French prosecutors are pushing for a €750,000 fine against Nestlé over claims of illegal waste disposal. The company stands accused of running four unauthorised landfills near its Vittel bottling plant. A criminal court in Nancy is now reviewing the case after prosecutors demanded a guilty verdict. The allegations centre on Nestlé's handling of waste at its Vittel site. Prosecutors claim the firm dumped over 473,000 cubic metres of material in landfills that lacked proper permits. While microplastics were found at the locations, tests did not confirm they caused significant harm to the environment or public health.

Charges of direct pollution were eventually dropped due to a lack of clear evidence. However, the prosecution still seeks the maximum fine allowed under French law. If convicted, Nestlé would also be required to clean up the affected areas.

The case follows a broader trend of environmental litigation in France. Recent years have seen civil suits against companies like Arkema and Daikin for chemical contamination, though convictions for waste violations remain rare. A decision in the Nancy court will determine whether Nestlé faces penalties for the alleged landfill breaches. The outcome could set a precedent for how French authorities handle similar cases in the future. Remediation of the sites would become mandatory if the company is found guilty.