Steps Toward Trash Monopoly?

Allied Waste hauling company wants to take over trash hauling contracts in three of the eight trash collection districts in unincorporated St. Louis County. Veolia ES, which would sell the contracts to Allied, notified the county Wednesday of its plans. The county counselor's office should complete a review of the situation within a few days, Robert Grant, deputy county counselor, said Monday.

Trash service rates would remain unchanged because Allied would assume the existing contracts and abide by their terms, Grant said. Because the county council approved Veolia ES's contracts, it would have the last word on whether Allied could take them over, Grant said. The move by Allied would be a step toward a monopoly.

Veolia ES holds contracts trash District 3 in west St. Louis County, District 4 in southwest St. Louis County and District 7 in the western part of Oakville and in an adjacent area west of Interstate 55.

Allied has the contracts for trash Districts 5 and 6, which cover the unincorporated area generally bounded by St. Louis, the Mississippi River, Interstates 255 and 270 and Watson Road, an area that includes Affton, Lemay and Mehlville.

The two trash companies won the contracts in bidding in 2008. The contracts expire in October 2011. The trash districts remain controversial almost two years after they began operating. Before they took effect, residents had to arrange for their own service.

Numerous residents of south St. Louis County opposed trash districts. Many critics said they liked their hauler and opposed having a hauler imposed on them. The opposition complained that residents had little say in the trash plan.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_9d7b5223-6c94-56a4-988d-00f4e3c7f5e5.html