State regulators issue $152,400 penalty to Waste Management of Washington, Inc.

Media contact: 360-664-1116 or media@utc.wa.gov
Docket number: TG-240189

Company violated service frequency agreements for some Central Washington customers

LACEY, Wash. - On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Utilities and Transportation Commission fined Waste Management of Washington, Inc. (Waste Management) $152,400. The penalty stems from violations related to solid waste service in Douglas County.

Following consumer complaints, an investigation found that Waste Management violated state law by providing monthly service to 25 customers rather than the every-other-week service required by the company's tariff.

Staff recommended the commission impose the maximum penalty of $1,000 per violation, for each of the 254 violations Waste Management admitted to committing, for a total penalty of $254,000.

The commission considers 11 factors to determine possible penalties, including harm to consumers, the number of violations and how widespread they are, the company's cooperation during the investigation, whether they have corrected the violations, the likelihood of recurrence and more. The more violations the commission finds, the more likely it is to take enforcement action.

In this case, the commission did not believe the record supported the maximum penalty and imposed penalties of $600 per violation, for a total penalty of $152,400. Half of the penalty, $76,200, is suspended for two years and will be waived provided Waste Management does not have any similar violations during the two-year period. Waste Management will also be required to conduct initial and follow up audits related to its service frequency state-wide and file an audit report as a compliance filing in this docket.

Waste Management must pay the $76,200 penalty within 10 days of the effective date of the order, which is May 22, 2025.

Waste Management of Washington, Inc. provides solid waste collection support across 52 service locations in Washington state.

To ensure they are safe, equitable, available, reliable and fairly priced, the UTC regulates the rates and services of investor-owned electric utilities, telecommunications companies, natural gas and water companies, solid waste collection companies, household-goods movers and passenger transportation companies, commercial ferries, pipeline companies, marine pilotage, and a low-level radioactive waste repository. The commission does not regulate the rates of broadband services, cellular, cable, or Internet service.

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