The Facts About:

Penn Waste

Penn Waste Alert is an independent resource for existing and future customers of Penn Waste as well as the general public. Penn Waste is a trash company that contracts with over 70 municipalities in Pennsylvania. We are not affiliated with Penn Waste. In the coming months, we will be adding more information about Penn Waste to our site.

State Senator Scott Wagner owns and operates Penn Waste, a trash business.

Penn Waste has a track record of using strong-arm tactics to win contracts and bully customers.

Penn Waste has been repeatedly cited for violating state environmental regulations.

Will these result in unnecessary legal risk for municipalities and individuals who contract with Penn Waste?

LEARN THE FACTS

Penn Waste:

Dirty

Deals

Penn Waste Sends Sheriffs to Customers’ Homes For As Little As One Late Bill.

According to a federal lawsuit, York Waste Disposal/Republic Services alleged that Penn Waste President Scott Wagner took extraordinary steps to unfairly steal business from them in Springettsbury Township by bullying elected township officials. Additionally, York Waste alleged Penn Waste ordered employees, families, and friends living in the township to lodge complaints against York Waste’s service to municipal officials in an effort to hurt their reputation.

Penn Waste Sued an 84-Year Old Woman for Services She Didn’t Use.

In 2003, Penn Waste sued 84-year-old York resident Clara Palmer for a $600 overdue bill. According to the York Daily Record, “Her Great Depression-era upbringing taught her to waste nothing. She’s learned paper wrappers make good kindling for the wood stove. Some food scraps and other bio-degradable garbage are deposited onto a compost pile that eventually nourishes her flower beds. Almost everything else can be recycled.” Penn Waste demanded money for services she didn’t use, and ultimately took Palmer to court.

Penn Waste Sued for Bullying Individuals Who Weren’t Customers.

In 2009, Penn Waste was sued by a vacant property owner in York County. Penn Waste repeatedly attempted to collect payment from the property owner despite the fact their services was never requested nor received. As a result of the company’s use of a collection agency, the property owner’s credit report was damaged and was prevented access to multiple loans.

Penn Waste Has Sued Nearly 7,000 Customers

Penn Waste sued customers for as little as one late payment. The number of Penn Waste lawsuits against customers stands at 6,979 individuals from January 2012 to May 2018 alone, filing over 10,000 total lawsuits. These include customers throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York Counties.

Penn Waste:

Dirty

Business

Federal Lawsuit Accuses Penn Waste of Strong Arming A Contract Away From A Competitor

According to a federal lawsuit, York Waste Disposal/Republic Services alleged that Penn Waste President Scott Wagner took extraordinary steps to unfairly steal business from them in Springettsbury Township by bullying elected township officials. Additionally, York Waste alleged Penn Waste ordered employees, families, and friends living in the township to lodge complaints against York Waste’s service to municipal officials in an effort to hurt their reputation.

Penn Waste has paid thousands in State Fines.

Since Penn Waste origin, they have paid thousands in fines for operating outside the boundaries of acceptable environmental practices, putting Pennsylvania communities and residents at risk.

Penn Waste:

Conflicts of

Interest

Penn Waste President Has a History of Mixing His Business and Politics

Amanda Davidson who currently serves as Director of Communications for Penn Waste also works for Penn Waste President Scott Wagner’s political campaigns and his election PAC. In her official position with Penn Waste, she has defended Wagner’s political ambitions when questionable business practices have been called into question in the local press.

Penn Waste Has Paid for Plane Rides for Politicians

Penn Waste paid for a plane ride for Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mike Turzai to fly from Western Pennsylvania to Harrisburg. This was disclosed as a nearly $2,700 gift on an annual statement of financial interest for Turzai. In addition, Penn Waste has also paid for a country club membership for Scott Wagner. Despite court documents saying his membership would be used strictly for business purposes, Wagner has responded to an incident that led to a criminal investigation at the country club from his political campaign’s website.

In His Position as State Senator, Penn Waste’s President Has Sponsored Legislation That Would Financially Benefit His Company

Penn Waste President Scott Wagner has sponsored legislation that would move trash burning to a Tier 1 energy source in Pennsylvania. If successful, Wagner would forge a more profitable market for Penn Waste. In addition, one his political campaign funders, Corvana Energy, would benefit from this legislation. They operate five out of the six plants equipped for converting trash burning to energy. Penn Waste operates in five out of the six counties with these plants

Penn Waste President Is Also Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee

Penn Waste President Scott Wagner was also a State Senator. In 2016, Wagner was appointed to the chair the state local government committee. Penn Waste has contracts with over 70 local governments throughout Pennsylvania. In Wagner’s position as chairman, he had direct influence over any legislation concerning those same municipalities. According to news reports, Wagner makes a “decent portion of his living” through local government contracts. Penn Waste made $75 million in revenue in 2017.

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