March 7, 2025
The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has filed an application with the Cartel Court to impose a fine of EUR 175,000 on Huber Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH Nfg. KG and Huber Abfallservice Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (collectively “Huber”) as part of the ongoing waste management cartel investigations. The application, submitted on March 5, 2025, confirms Huber’s status as a leniency witness in the case.
Leniency and Fine Determination
Huber cooperated with the BWB under the leniency program, providing comprehensive admissions to assist in clarifying the case before the Cartel Court. The fine amount was determined based on several factors:
- Huber’s cooperation as a leniency witness,
- Its subordinate role in the cartel,
- A lower number of direct antitrust violations compared to other involved companies,
- The company’s lower economic performance,
- Lower affected turnover relative to other participants.
Given these circumstances, and the fact that smaller companies have a lower applicable fine framework due to their turnover, the proposed penalty was set at EUR 175,000.
Involvement in Anti-Competitive Practices
Huber was found to have engaged in anti-competitive practices, including price-fixing, market sharing, and the exchange of sensitive competition-related information. These activities influenced both public and private tenders in Carinthia’s waste collection sector from at least 2003 to March 2021. Huber’s actions were part of a broader, Austria-wide cartel operating from at least July 2002 to March 2021.
This latest development follows previous cartel investigations in the waste management sector, as authorities continue efforts to ensure compliance with competition law. The Cartel Court will now assess the BWB’s application and determine the final outcome.
