The Austrian waste management company Saubermacher has been fined €7.085 million after being granted leniency status in a major waste cartel investigation.

The company cooperated with the Federal Competition Authority (BWB) following raids, helping to uncover illegal price-fixing and market-sharing activities between 2002 and 2021. Saubermacher admitted to around 80 instances of misconduct, which they acknowledged as unacceptable by both legal and ethical standards.

The investigation, which began in March 2021, involved over 20 locations and highlighted the significant financial stakes in Austria's waste management sector, valued at over €5 billion annually.

Despite the fine, Saubermacher's cooperation was crucial in advancing the case, marking a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings against other involved parties.