ANTICOMPETITIVE AGREEMENTS IN THE WASTE TREATMENT SECTOR

Exposed in 18 regions of Russia

From 2016 to H1 2019, FAS opened more than 40 cases on cartels and other anticompetitive agreements in the field of solid municipal waste treatment (SMW).

For instance, Chelyabinsk OFAS is investigating two cases opened upon signs of violating the antimonopoly law on SMW market. Actions undertaken by the Environment Ministry of the Chelyabinsk region, the Government of the Chelyabinsk region and “SMW Polygon” Ltd. have elements of an agreement that prevented entry to the market of services for collecting and removing SMW from container sites in Chelyabinsk. Chelyabinsk OFAS is also investigating a case upon signs of an anticompetitive agreement between a municipal unitary enterprise and 7 garbage disposal operators.

Khanty-Mansiisky OFAS initiated proceedings against Industry Department of Khanty-Mansiisky Autonomous District – Yugra and “Yugra-Ecology” JSC as they had signed a contract with the regional operator without any competitive procedures.

The antimonopoly bodies of the Moscow region and Perm made decisions on agreements that had prevented entry to the market of SMW disposal. The Moscow region held liable: Podolsk Municipal Authority, “Podolsk Heating Network” Municipal Unitary Enterprise, “Podolsk Redevelopment Cabinet” Podolsk Municipal Unitary Enterprise, and “COMTEX” Ltd; and Perm: “Masergrad” Secondary General Education School” Municipal Autonomous General Educational Institution, “Calibri” Ltd., and “GranitStroi” Ltd.

St Petersburg OFAS made two decisions against members of bid-rigging cartels for liquidating unauthorized landfills, municipal waste and garbage.

Udmurtia OFAS issued a decision against “ABS-Service” Ltd., “Garbage removal” Ltd., “Spetsavtokhozyaistvo” Ltd. upon the fact of a similar violation.

In 3.5 years violations were exposed in Moscow and St Petersburg, the Altai, Krasnoyarsk and Perm Territories, the Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Moscow, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Penza and Vladimir regions, the Republics of Khakassia, Marii El and Udmurtia, and Khanty-Mansiisky Autonomous District – Yugra.