In January 1999, the supervisors voted 3-2 to reject the motion to transfer garbage collection in Santa Margarita, Templeton, and other county areas from Wil-Mar Disposal Co. to Waste Management Inc. The vote came after a deluge of staff reports and environmental comments alleging that WMI has had a poor environmental record over the years. The Superior Court for San Luis Obispo County heard the Wil-Mar v. County case on April 19, 2000, and ruled in favor of the county. The court held that the county acted within its jurisdiction to deny the assignment of the Wil Mar Franchise to Waste Management. WMI purchased Wil-Mar thinking it could acquire by assignment the company's seven year hauling contract with the county. However, the contract provided discretion for the county's approval of any assignment.
Waste Management Inc. has left a trail of "crime and corruption from one end of the state to the other," said Supervisor Peg Pinard who also made the motion to deny the transfer. E. William Hutton, WMI's attorney, tried to convince the supervisors that the new company followed a tight ethical creed under new management. The new management, the former USA Waste management, which has since been fired for unethical conduct!
The Supervisor's staff report spelled out 1,085 violation by WMI between January 1, 1993 and October 1, 1998. These included nine civil actions and two criminal violations. The report stated largest fines included $1.52 million for a Pennsylvania landfill and $300,000 for a fish kill also in Pennsylvania. The report also highlighted the San Bernardino criminal case.
Bambi and Godzilla
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