NCJ Number
147157
Date Published
1993
Length
54 pages
Annotation
Practices in the private garbage collection industry in New York are discussed.
Abstract
The private garbage collection industry in New York, dominated until recently by numerous very small firms in essentially local markets, has a long history of customer allocation conspiracies in restraint of trade. In New York metropolitan areas, these agreements have involved members of the Mafia. The reputation for racketeering involvement in the New York region has restricted entry, particularly by the few large national firms, maintained discipline among the conspirators, and inhibited customers from complaint. The carters have treated customers as assets to be bought and sold. Prices for collection of waste from commercial customers have been raised by as much as 50 percent in these markets. Both law enforcement and regulation have failed to eliminate customer allocation agreements. This essay relies on data collected between 1978 and 1985 in New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island. It includes a brief description of the garbage collection industry and its evolution, giving particular attention to the family orientation of the businesses, a discussion of the nature of the violations found in the cartage industry, an analysis of the problem of designing effective arrangements for cartels with numerous participants and of the assets and strategies available to organized crime, an examination of efforts to eliminate racketeers and bring about competition, and an examination of the consequences of the customer allocation agreements. References