Rubin Communications Group Helps Slow Flow Control Effort

Not every public relations firm can claim an intimate knowledge of solid waste management.  But Rubin Communications Group has developed a reputation for expertise in that essential public utility, so it was no surprise that the Virginia Waste Industries Association turned to it for help with a major issue impacting on their members and customers.

It’s called Flow Control, an economically questionable practice in which local municipalities can mandate that all trash collected in a region must be brought to a single government-run landfill.  The VWIA maintained that such a policy creates a monopoly and permits the regional waste agency to operate without the constraints of the free enterprise system, resulting in higher rates and wasteful spending.

In the case of Hampton Roads’ regional waste agency, the Southeastern Public Service Authority, that was not a hard argument to make since SPSA had accumulated more than $240-million in debt as a result of years of questionable budget decisions.

Still there was great attraction among most localities to Flow Control because it promised to dramatically reduce their rates for garbage disposal while raising them on commercial property owners who have their trash collected by private haulers, RCG’s client.

“Our job was to make the argument against flow control so it was understandable to elected officials, the general public and the media,” says Joel Rubin. “It has not been easy, but we have succeeded in slowing down the Flow Control train that was clearly on the tracks to passage before we became involved.”

RCG made liberal use of e-mail alerts and direct meetings involving hauler representatives and elected officials to make their case.  It made such an impact that SPSA’S PR manager told the Virginian Pilot that she had to work much harder to counter what she termed a “very, very vigorous campaign by the private haulers.”

“If she only knew how little we had spent at that point to achieve our aims,” said Rubin.  The Flow Control debate is far from over, and the VWIA is counting on RCG to continue providing it with sound political and media advice to create a solution that keeps rates within reason for all parties.