Senator Caligiuri
Renews Call For State Licensing & Oversight Of Trash Haulers
Testified
In Favor Of His Proposed Legislation Before General
Law Committee
Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-16) is again calling for
the General Assembly to require trash haulers to submit
to licensing and oversight by the state Department of
Consumer Protection. He testified today in favor of
his proposed legislation, SB 324, An Act Concerning the Mandatory Licensing and Oversight of Trash Haulers,
before the legislature’s General Law Committee.
This is the second time that Senator Caligiuri has
asked the General Assembly to pass legislation requiring
that trash haulers be licensed by the state.
“We need this bill in order to protect the public
and consumers from the small minority of haulers who
engage in illegal practices. These practices are anti
competitive, which ultimately hurts consumers,”
said Senator Caligiuri, adding that state licensing
and oversight would deter illegal activity.
Specifically, Senator Caligiuri’s proposed legislation
would require trash haulers to: provide background information
on officers, directors and shareholders/owners of the
company and submit to background checks on these individuals;
submit annual financial statements to the state; and
certify the areas served by their companies.
“The licensing and background check process
would help us to identify individuals who by virtue
of their background should not be permitted to participate
in this industry,” said Senator Caligiuri, noting
that two individuals convicted in recent years were
owners or partners in as many as 25 different trash
hauling companies.
“Requiring trash haulers to submit financial
statements would create greater transparency and hopefully
deter illegal practices such as the so-called “property
rights system” under which participating trash
haulers agree to divide stops, fix prices and rig contract
bids,” said Senator Caligiuri.
Senator Caligiuri said he anticipates opposition on
the grounds that trash haulers are already regulated
at the local level. However, he said that law enforcement
activity regarding trash haulers is proof that existing
oversight is not effective.
