Plans proposed to clean up waste-hauling - Wednesday, June 14, 2006

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Plans proposed to clean up waste-hauling

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

BY STEVE GAMBINI

Copyright © 2006 Republican-American

WATERBURY -- Almost as soon as the gavel hit the bench in U.S. District Court after Friday's arraignments in a federal trash-hauling investigation, state politicians stepped up to offer their solutions to the problem.

Federal investigators alleged that organized crime had been colluding with trash companies to fix prices and carve out territories for waste haulers, provided they paid a "mob tax" for the privilege.

To date, three political leaders have offered plans.

Sam S.F. Caligiuri, former acting mayor

On Monday, Caligiuri, a Republican, issued a six-point plan modeled on the reforms of Waterbury's towing contractor system that he instituted as acting mayor in 2001.

His proposal also calls for licensing, criminal background checks, audits, state oversight of mergers and acquisitions and a mandatory code of ethics.

The plan, which he forwarded to Rell, also gives the state the power to revoke licenses of firms that engage in illegal activity.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal

The state's ubiquitous top lawyer was quick to issue his own press release on the day of the indictments, pointing out that he had "fought monopolistic and anti-competitive practices" in the trash business for 10 years. Blumenthal urged Rell and the General Assembly to adopt proposals that he had already made to license waste haulers. Four states, including Texas and Arkansas, license waste haulers.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell

Rell was "alarmed" to learn how widespread mob control of the garbage business was in Connecticut, according to a press release her office sent out after the indictments.

The governor called for the creation of a Connecticut Solid Waste Authority and ordered the departments of Public Safety, Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Chief State's Attorney to work up a proposal to create that agency by July 21.

Much of the state already monitors its trash collection through the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority, a quasi-governmental agency that focuses primarily on the disposal of garbage at its waste-to-energy incinerators.

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