In its findings after inspecting Wheelabrator ENVIRON cited a number of problems at the plant, including discrepancies with the completion of sheets related to the monitoring of waste loads, the failure to list corrective actions on logs and inspection forms that don’t accurately depict the locations of spill containment kits. “I was very disappointed, this doesn’t make me feel comfortable at all,” Board of Health member Pamela Harris said.

According to the lawsuit, historical documents reveal that the abandonment of deteriorating and leaking dioxin waste pits was planned, purposeful and intentional. Defendants are alleged to have voted to “abandon” pits full of dioxin waste, while company executives rewarded themselves with large bonuses.

Given all that has recently transpired with regards to open competition, transparency, and no-more back room deals in the garbage arena, wouldn't you want to rethink your city's previous 20 year commitment to Waste Management?

Wouldn't you want to check out the Broward County ILA (Inter-Local Agreement) for Waste Disposal or Recovered materials (Recycling) or perhaps piggy-back onto the Miramar trash gig?

"We've hit a real bump in the road here, and it's not acceptable. But they're a big national company. They ought to be able to get it straightened out. Their reputation is important to them."

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission plans to investigate how Waste Management deployed replacement drivers during the recent garbage strike. The strike, which affected about 220,000 customers in King and Snohomish counties, ended Thursday when the company's recycle drivers, represented by Teamsters Local 117, approved a six-year contract with Waste Management.

When Wheelabrator sought payment of the retainage in 2007, contending it had fully and timely performed, CPS informed Wheelabrator that it was going to withhold payment of the retainage pending resolution of the claims asserted by Casey against CPS. Casey sought to recover an additional $12,000,000 from CPS for costs of delay it alleged were caused by Wheelabrator.

The Gulfstream annual contract with Waste decreased from $144,588 to $122,988 effective 10/01/08 - a 14.9% decline. At the same time, Delray's residential contract with Waste increased 63.1%. Gulfstream's manager (Mr. Thrasher) stated in writing, "The reduction is a combination of corrections to their (Waste's) data base and some bargaining."

Waste Management is the largest waste haulage company in the United States with operations in Canada and Puerto Rico. With 45,000 employees and 20 million customers, it earned $13.4 billion in 2011, an increase of 6.9 percent over the previous year. Last week it announced a restructuring of its operations to decrease costs by one percent. The company plans to eliminate a layer of management at the “group level” and lay off 700 employees. It anticipates continued cost-cutting measures over the next two years.

$.06 per month per customer doesn't sound like much money but when it is extended for 33,000 residential customers for a year, it means WM will have overbilled Delray $23,760.

For residents with garbage starting to smell in summer heat, Waste Management said to wait for the next scheduled pickup and the truck will take a double load. If garbage collections are interrupted for more than a week, the city could fine the contractor $250,000 a day, Seattle Public Utilities said.