Privacy Issues
Do you know who has your private information?
Private information may include the following:
When you have the freedom to choose your own hauler, this information is between two people, you and your hauler. It is no one else's business.
When government strips you of your right to choose your own hauler, they also strip away your right to control your private information.
Information in the hands of government is is always presumed to be public information unless the law specifically states that it is not. Anyone can contact city hall and get their hands on information that you never imagined possible.
Information obtained by a hauler working for government is also public information. The law makes it clear that public information laws not only apply to government, but also to government contractors. When the city hires your trash hauler, that hauler becomes a government contractor and their data, and your private data, becomes the public's.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 2018, in an article titled Want to pause your St. Paul trash collection? You may have to prove you'll be away, former state lawmaker Michael Paymar was asked to provide his government mandated trash hauler with dates of his travel, a copy of an airline ticket, hotel receipt or doctor's note to suspend trash service.
What if you don't want to send your government mandated hauler this information? Mr. Paymar learned that he would have to file an appeal with city hall, and provide them similar information, making that information public also.
What would happen if he did not pay his bill? They would place it on his property tax statement.
Can government track your trash?
Yes!
The Star Tribune on January 31, 2019 in an article titled New focal point for garbage ire in St. Paul: Hidden tracking chips, informs readers about RFID chips hidden in the carts the city purchased for their government managed trash system.
These tracking chips can be used to tell whether you put your can out, how much you put in your can, and can be integrated with cameras on trucks to track what you throw away. Just because the city claims that they are not tracking information today, doesn't mean they cannot start doing it tomorrow.
In Maplewood, their contract with Allied Waste requires the installation of tracking chips in trash containers provided to residents. (2011 Maplewood contract, PDF)
Paragraph 42 of the Maplewood contract states the following:
All of this data cities can obtain using RFID chips is all government information that is available to anyone that asks.
Under Minnesota Law, anyone can ask for this information, without having to provide their name or contact information. There is no requirement that you be a resident of the city, state or nation in order to obtain public information. A telemarketer from the Philippines could contact city hall and obtain any public information they wish.
You have no ability to stop your private information from becoming public when the city takes over management of the trash system and orders you to use their hauler.
Updated 1/15/20
Do you know who has your private information?
Private information may include the following:
- When you suspend service because you are on vacation.
- Whether you recycle a lot or maybe not at all.
- If you pay for special services like document shredding or appliance removal.
- What size of container you use.
- If you have walk up service because of a disability.
- Whether you spoke with a driver and what issue you raised.
When you have the freedom to choose your own hauler, this information is between two people, you and your hauler. It is no one else's business.
When government strips you of your right to choose your own hauler, they also strip away your right to control your private information.
Information in the hands of government is is always presumed to be public information unless the law specifically states that it is not. Anyone can contact city hall and get their hands on information that you never imagined possible.
Information obtained by a hauler working for government is also public information. The law makes it clear that public information laws not only apply to government, but also to government contractors. When the city hires your trash hauler, that hauler becomes a government contractor and their data, and your private data, becomes the public's.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 2018, in an article titled Want to pause your St. Paul trash collection? You may have to prove you'll be away, former state lawmaker Michael Paymar was asked to provide his government mandated trash hauler with dates of his travel, a copy of an airline ticket, hotel receipt or doctor's note to suspend trash service.
What if you don't want to send your government mandated hauler this information? Mr. Paymar learned that he would have to file an appeal with city hall, and provide them similar information, making that information public also.
What would happen if he did not pay his bill? They would place it on his property tax statement.
Can government track your trash?
Yes!
The Star Tribune on January 31, 2019 in an article titled New focal point for garbage ire in St. Paul: Hidden tracking chips, informs readers about RFID chips hidden in the carts the city purchased for their government managed trash system.
These tracking chips can be used to tell whether you put your can out, how much you put in your can, and can be integrated with cameras on trucks to track what you throw away. Just because the city claims that they are not tracking information today, doesn't mean they cannot start doing it tomorrow.
In Maplewood, their contract with Allied Waste requires the installation of tracking chips in trash containers provided to residents. (2011 Maplewood contract, PDF)
Paragraph 42 of the Maplewood contract states the following:
- 42. Trucks Shall Be Equipped with RFID Data Management Systems. The Contractor’s trucks purchased and used for the City shall be equipped with on-board radio frequency identification (RFID) systems to read the RFID tags installed in the City trash carts when the carts are emptied in the Contractor’s trucks. Other trucks that do not regularly serve Maplewood, but may occasionally be used as backup vehicles, are not required to have these automatic overload prevention devices. The RFID system shall be based on the ultra-high frequency (UHF) standard of 860 – 960 MHz which is compliant with the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 18000-6 standard. Additional technical specifications for the RFID tags and truck-mounted scanners (including antennae and readers) shall be developed by the City in cooperation with the Contractor.
All of this data cities can obtain using RFID chips is all government information that is available to anyone that asks.
Under Minnesota Law, anyone can ask for this information, without having to provide their name or contact information. There is no requirement that you be a resident of the city, state or nation in order to obtain public information. A telemarketer from the Philippines could contact city hall and obtain any public information they wish.
You have no ability to stop your private information from becoming public when the city takes over management of the trash system and orders you to use their hauler.
Updated 1/15/20