Waste Management Challenges Jefferson Parish Decision

Date: October 19, 2011

Source: News Room

Waste Management is challenging the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Council in court to explain why it chose to begin contract negotiations with IESI Corp. to operate its landfill. Waste Management is seeking a court order barring the parish from signing a contract with IESI arguing that the council made an "arbitrary and capricious" decision to do so, especially since Waste Management's proposal received a higher score from a parish evaluation committee. According to an article in the New Orleans' Times-Picayune, attorneys for the parish contend that questions about the decision-making process are barred by the "privileges and immunities clause" in the state Constitution. Attorneys for Waste Management, which has run the parish landfill for the last 25 years, said the clause does not apply to local legislative entities.

The effort to block the IESI deal is the latest development in a protracted controversy about the parish's waste disposal plans, beginning with the 2009 approval of a 25-year, $160 million contract with the neighboring River Birch landfill. The parish is seeking a court order invalidating the River Birch deal, which is under federal investigation.

See also: "Waste Management Sues New Orleans Landfill Company," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20110927C.htm).

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