ORANGE
The City Council tonight will begin to rid itself of the trash collection mire that has rocked city politics for nearly two years. Council members are expected to approve a settlement agreement between the city and Orange Resource Recovery Systems and Orange Disposal Services, trash hauling companies owned by the Hambarian family, the city’s exclusive handler for 43 years. The family has agreed to pay $9.3 million to the city to resolve all fraud and contract issues.
But the settlement will not exclude Jeff Hambarian from criminal prosecution, City Atty. David De Berry said. Hambarian will be tried later this year on 65 felony counts of fraud and embezzlement. He is accused of bilking the city out of $4 million over a 13-year period, De Berry said.
Council members also are expected to approve a new trash-collecting contract with USA Waste of California Inc. The council meets at 4:30 p.m. in chambers, 300 E. Chapman Ave.
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