Mayor Cantrell cancels IV Waste contract for more expensive trash service
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell terminated IV Waste's trash collection contract in early July 2025, seeking replacement with Henry Consulting.
- The new contract is $2.1 million more expensive, raising concerns from residents about efficiency and service quality.
- The controversy continues amidst legal battles and ongoing complaints about sanitation quality in the French Quarter.
In July 2025, amid persistent sanitation issues, New Orleans saw a significant change in its trash collection services. The city's mayor, LaToya Cantrell, terminated a contract with IV Waste, a company founded by Sidney Torres, in favor of a no-bid contract with Henry Consulting. This decision was framed as an emergency action that allowed the mayor to bypass typical public procurement laws. A new contract was proposed that would cost $2.1 million more than the previous one, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the outsourced service provider. Torres expressed his grievances, citing his company’s successful track record in serving the French Quarter since it began operations in December 2024 under a competitive bid contract. The sudden termination sparked controversy, as residents and business owners voiced their disapproval and praised IV Waste for drastically improving cleanliness in the Quarter. They noted a newly cleaner environment, contrasting sharply with the previous conditions of overflowing garbage cans and foul odors. The decision to switch to Henry Consulting faced scrutiny given that the company seemed ill-equipped for the task at hand, with concerns about the absence of essential resources for proper sanitation management during major events like Mardi Gras and Super Bowl LIX. As the legal disputes unfolded, the situation highlighted larger themes of governance, cronyism accusations, and local dissatisfaction with city management. The competition for garbage collection services left many in the community hopeful for continuing advancements in sanitation and caution regarding the potential impact of political maneuvering on service quality.