Trash collection firm ordered to repay $128,000 to Minnesotan customers

A waste removal company has been ordered to issue $128,000 in refunds after failing to disclose certain fees to Minnesota customers.

Attorney General Keith Ellison says that Allied Waste Services of North America LLC, doing business as Republic Services, charged customers waste-container removal fees to customers who canceled their services.

The settlement also requires Allied Waste Services to ensure that it adequately discloses all of its fees moving forward.

Ellison's office says the company engaged in "deceptive and misleading practices" since at least January 1, 2014, regarding the sale of waste disposal services to particular Minnesota consumers.

Republic would provide Minnesota consumers with written disclosures of their charges, but Ellison's office container removal fees were not included in these disclosures, forcing consumers to pay more than they originally planned.

According to court documents, the company initially disputed these findings, but the AG's office said the company cannot charge Minnesota consumers a fee unless the written agreement discloses it, and they must verbally disclose applicable container removal fees to Minnesota consumers if orders are placed through call centers.

"Free markets require honesty and transparency to work properly. Consumers shopping around for services are entitled to clear and accurate information about the price they will pay," Ellison said in his statement.

"In some cases, Republic Services failed to meet its obligations to disclose the fees it charged. I appreciate Republic Services' willingness today to refund consumers for its past failure to disclose certain container removal fees through this settlement."