NWRA’s Florida Chapter Opposes Hillsborough County Regulation to Require Pricing Information

Arlington, VA – The Florida chapter of the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) sent a letter to the Hillsborough County Administrator and county commissioners expressing the chapter’s opposition to Hillsborough’s request for pricing information in the updated Customer Solid Waste Profile. The chapter argued that this information is a protected trade secret under Florida law.

“We are strongly opposed to the collecting and releasing of trade secret and confidential business information related to services and pricing,” stated NWRA Chief Counsel & Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Jim Riley. “We further believe the Customer Solid Waste Profile containing pricing information creates an unacceptable risk to our members by disclosing their trade secrets and is contrary to the Legislature’s intent to protect trade secrets.”

In the 2012 solicitation, the Customer Solid Waste Profile contained information on customer service levels but not pricing. NWRA’s Florida chapter believes the pricing information, coupled with the levels of service, falls under the trade secret protections under Florida statutes. If provided to a competitor, it will allow the competitor access to the formula a company may use for its pricing and could have statewide ramifications for the parties whose information is released.

###

ABOUT NWRA

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage waste, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors, and various other service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit www.wasterecycling.org.