Dive Brief:

• The decision by O'Fallon, MO to select Republic Services as the operator of its transfer station is being challenged in court by two local residents, as reported the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
• The residents say that Republic, as well as Waste Connections and another bidder, violated city rules by speaking to elected officials in addition to the city's purchasing agent. They also say that the Missouri attorney general's pending lawsuit against Republic over the Bridgeton landfill situation should have disqualified the company because bidders must be in compliance with all state regulations.
• A circuit judge for St. Charles County is scheduled to hear the case on Jan. 20.

Dive Insight:

While O'Fallon collects waste and recycling, reaching a decision about the new transfer station contract has been a long process. Multiple mayoral vetoes — and subsequent council overrides — have occurred along with an aborted plan to make the issue into a ballot initiative. Republic's bid appears to cost the city $5.1 million more over a 10-year period, though supportive council members say that doesn't take into account other benefits such as potential facility improvements.

Republic maintains that neither of its landfills in Bridgeton pose a public health risk and it has spent more than $200 million to manage the underground reaction in question. Yet this hasn't stopped local residents from raising concerns and filing lawsuits. The Environmental Protection Agency has delayed a cleanup plan for radioactive waste at the West Lake Landfill and recently conducted radiation tests for some local homeowners despite assurances that they are not at risk.

Despite what Republic said was a more than $187 economic impact in the state during 2015 these issues in Bridgeton continue to overshadow the company's local business in the eyes of some residents.