In this video, I dive into the specifics of how the garbage and waste management industry works in The Sopranos and how it’s used in their criminal operations. Garbage companies are legitimate businesses; however, these companies are often heavily intertwined with the mafia and used as vehicles for criminal activity or to show legitimate income.
“What line of work are you in?”
“I’m in the waste management business.”
“Everybody immediately assumes you’re mobbed up. It’s a stereotype and it’s offensive.”
It’s not completely a stereotype, though, as we can see from just a sample of news articles throughout the years. Waste management companies often have contracts with local municipalities and businesses. These contracts are often controlled or monopolized by the mafia. These contracts aren’t won through fair competitive bidding; instead, they’re obtained through extortion, political bribery, or threats of violence, as we see with the Kolar brothers.
Companies under mob control will often overcharge clients, billing them for extra pickups or unnecessary services, as we see with the deli in Nutley. The arguing doesn’t always come from the outside. Sometimes, we have multiple guys within the same family thinking they’re next in line for the next bid or project. Like the Fairfield contract, for example. Richie thinks he should get it. Albert thinks his cousin Larry should get it because he’s in jail and his family needs the money. And Tony thinks they’re both out of line.
If the mafia controls or has influence over a union, as we see in The Sopranos, union leaders are often bribed or threatened to ensure that the mafia gets its share of the profits. Once they have control or influence, mafia figures can direct pension fund managers to make investments that benefit mafia-controlled businesses or contractors.
Just a couple of years ago, a federal judge in Chicago ended 40 years of oversight for union pension funds for the Teamsters Union. The ruling dissolved consent decrees, which had given the US Department of Labor oversight of the multi-billion dollar Teamster pension and welfare fund.
You may be wondering: What’s the difference between waste management and the carting industry, or are they the same thing? Waste management encompasses the entire process of handling waste, while carting specifically refers to the collection and transportation of waste.
In season 6, Jason Barone decides that he wants to sell Barone Sanitation. He was never told by his father or mother about the arrangements the company had with Tony as his “waste management consultant.” Of course, Tony is not happy to learn about this, as one of the other key benefits of working for Barone Sanitation is the health insurance that comes along with it.
In the end, they agree to let Tony keep his paycheck and his W-2 for 10 years, and to replace the skim, they’ll jack up his share of the sale price to 12%.
In some cases, companies might also divert waste to unauthorized dump sites to avoid disposal fees and pocket the difference. Overall, on a symbolic level, garbage in The Sopranos represents more than just physical waste. It’s also a metaphor for the moral and emotional decay of the characters, especially Tony. They manage garbage and people they consider garbage for one reason or another.
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00:00 Introduction
00:20 The Mafia and Garbage Companies
00:38 The Mafia and Waste Management – Art imitates life
00:49 Contracts with Municipalities and Businesses
01:24 Overcharging for Unnecessary Services and Extra Pick-ups
01:35 Double your garbage back if you’re not satisfied!
01:47 Richie Aprile is a Waste Management Problem
02:29 “Those who want respect, give respect.”
02:40 Meadow and AJ Talk Waste Management
02:58 Mafia Influence in Labor Unions
04:04 The Carting Business
04:31 Barone Sanitation provides Tony with a Legitimate Source of Income and Health Insurance
04:48 Jason Barone is Selling Barone Sanitation
05:17 Tony Needs That W2!
05:46 Skimming/Skim in the Mafia
06:13 Asbestos
06:33 The Symbolism of Garbage and Waste Management
07:16 Conclusion and Wrap Up – The Sopranos and Waste Management
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