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ACCC secures criminal conviction for cartel conduct
A former managing director and chief executive has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting demolition waste price fixing, as the ACCC crackdown on cartel conduct continues.
Lauren Croft
Daniel Tartak, formally of Bingo Industries, pled guilty to criminal cartel offences on Thursday (20 October), after charges were laid by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) following an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigation and referral.
Mr Tartak was charged with two cartel offences relating to a price-fixing arrangement for demolition waste services in Sydney. Bingo Industries — a waste management company that provides landfill, waste processing and skip bins services throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland — was also charged and entered guilty pleas in respect of price-fixing charges relating to the same conduct.
In an agreement with competitor Aussie Skip Bin Services, Bingo agreed to fix and increase prices for supplying skip bins for building and demolition waste. Mr Tartak was charged with aiding and abetting this cartel conduct.
“Colluding with your competitors to increase prices at the expense of your customers is serious cartel conduct,” explained Ms Cass-Gottlieb.
“Taking appropriate action against companies and individuals allegedly involved is a significant part of our work.”
There will be a sentencing hearing in the Federal Court on 9 and 10 March 2023.
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
