Garbage collusion?
28 April UOKiK (Competition and Consumer Protection Office) informed in a message about the initiation of explanatory proceedings. According to the information, two companies dealing with the collection and management of waste in Lublin could have committed abuse. It is about agreeing in what tenders or parts of them they will submit offers, and they will give up. In connection with the case Search was made at the headquarters of Kom-Eko and Koma Lublin.
– There are premises that indicate that offers submitted in recent tenders by both companies may have been coordinated. We are currently analyzing the evidence collected during searches – explained the president of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny.
Explanatory proceedings
Suspicions are related to tender procedures for waste collection and management in Lublin, which took place from March 8, 2018. The enterprises at which the searches were made could agree that they would not submit competitive offers in individual tenders or parts of them, and none of them will provide services in a top -down range.
If suspicions confirm (indicates the collected evidence), then The President of the Office may start the antitrust proceedings and charges with specific entities. Currently, the explanatory proceedings are conducted in the case, but not against the specific companies.
High penalties
Participation in the agreement limiting the competition threatens a financial penalty of up to 10 percent entrepreneur's turnover. Whereas For managers who decided to conclude such a contract, a fine may amount to up to PLN 2 million.
A way to avoid high penalties is a penalty program. It can be used by an entrepreneur or manager participating in an illegal agreement if he decides to cooperate with the President of UOKiK as a “crown witness”. The goal is to provide evidence either information on an illegal agreement. It is a chance to reduce and sometimes completely avoid sanctions financial.
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