Herrera statement on federal criminal charges filed against Recology

“We will continue to root out corruption wherever we may find it, and we welcome the efforts of other law enforcement agencies as we each endeavor to ensure good, ethical government for the people of San Francisco.”

SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 9, 2021) — City Attorney Dennis Herrera issued the following statement today after federal criminal charges were filed against Recology San Francisco, the contractor for the City’s waste and recycling collection:

City Attorney Dennis Herrera

“We are pleased that Recology is facing federal criminal consequences in addition to the remedies required by our civil settlement. Our own investigation of these defendants resulted in a settlement worth $100 million to San Francisco ratepayers. We commend the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for now holding Recology criminally accountable for the funds that it laundered through nonprofits for the benefit of Mohammad Nuru, and for adding enforcement tools to ensure that Recology complies with the terms our civil settlement.   We will continue to root out corruption wherever we may find it, and we welcome the efforts of other law enforcement agencies as we each endeavor to ensure good, ethical government for the people of San Francisco.”

Background
In March 2021, Herrera announced that his office had negotiated settlement with Recology San Francisco, the contractor for the City’s waste and recycling collection. The company agreed to lower rates and reimburse ratepayers for overcharges that were unearthed as part of a wide-ranging investigation into public corruption tied to former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru and others. The investigation is part of an overarching public integrity review with City Controller Ben Rosenfield.

The total savings to ratepayers from that agreement was more than $100 million and covers a four-year rate period from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021.

Recology was among the 24 companies, nonprofits and individuals that Herrera subpoenaed last year as part of a sweeping investigation into corruption linked to Nuru, former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly, former Department of Building Inspection Director Tom Hui, and others. The City Attorney’s Office is teaming with the Controller’s Office on the investigation. The investigation was touched off by the FBI arresting Nuru in January 2020.

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