Trash Hauler’s Background Questioned

With allegations of bribes swirling around a Torrance-based company that is trying to take over Ventura County’s second-largest waste hauler, government officials there said they want a thorough look into the company’s business practices.

After hearing revelations Friday that former Compton City Councilwoman Patricia Moore, who now faces extortion charges, allegedly confessed to government agencies in 1994 that she received monthly payoffs from Western Waste Industries, one former Ventura County waste commissioner suggested that the district attorney’s office investigate the matter.

Ojai Mayor Nina Shelley, a former Ventura County waste commissioner, said the district attorney’s office should use its expertise to find out what it can about Western Waste Industries before the company can start operating in the county.

Ventura County Dist. Atty. Mike Bradbury had no comment Friday, and officials from Western Waste Industries did not return repeated phone calls.

Moorpark City Councilman John Wozniak, who also serves on the East County Waste Task Force, said that before Moorpark would do business with Western Waste, the city would require that some sort of background check be done.

G.I. Industries controls exclusive contracts to pick up trash in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and the unincorporated portions of Ventura County. It serves more than 40,000 customers.

Although the company has been in bankruptcy reorganization for the last three years, in 1995 G.I. Industries generated an estimated $20 million in revenue.

Two weeks ago, the family that controlled G.I. Industries said they had accepted an offer to sell the firm to Western Waste Industries.

On Thursday, the county, along with the cities of Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, filed objections to the sale in Bankruptcy Court, saying the contracts do not automatically transfer if G.I. is sold.