On June 17, a jury found that Recology, San Francisco’s garbage collection contractor, improperly collected $1.36 million in bonus payments from the city. The lawsuit, filed by a former employee in 2010, accused Recology of manipulating waste diversion records in order to qualify for bonus payments–an incentive scheme set up by the city to award waste companies that meet the established targets for keeping the trash out of the landfill. Because the California False Claims Act provides for treble, or triple, damages, the judge could order Recology to pay San Francisco over $5 million. Recology’s spokesperson, Eric Potashner, said that the company plans to appeal the jury verdict.

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