The fight over who picks up the garbage is really a fight over who runs New Orleans—and what happens when emergency powers replace public process. What began as a routine contract in the French Quarter has spiraled into a deeper battle over transparency, authority, and political influence.
In New Orleans, even the garbage is political.
What started as a straightforward sanitation contract for the French Quarter has spiraled into a legal and political showdown between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council—one that raises bigger questions about executive power, emergency procurement, and trust in public accountability as the city faces a transition in leadership.
At the center of the controversy is IV Waste, the private sanitation firm owned by Sidney Torres IV, and Henry Consulting, led by Troy Henry—the same developer spearheading the $500 million+ Bayou Phoenix redevelopment at the long-abandoned Six Flags site. Behind the curtain is a scramble not just over who picks up the trash, but who controls high-dollar public contracts as Cantrell nears the end of her final term.
How We Got Here: Emergency Contracts and Political Triage
In late 2024, the Cantrell administration awarded a $75 million sanitation contract to Henry Consulting to manage trash pickup in the French Quarter has spiraled and Downtown Development District. But when Henry Consulting swapped out its subcontractor—replacing Richard’s Disposal with Clean Force—without notifying the City Council, the deal unraveled. The Council rejected the contract, citing transparency issues and what some called a “bait and switch.”
Rather than revisit the process publicly, the Mayor declared an emergency and circumvented Council oversight.
She awarded an emergency contract to IV Waste, giving Torres’ firm a one-year deal to keep the Quarter clean. The decision drew praise from business owners and residents alike. But in April 2025, the Mayor reversed course again, announcing a 90-day termination of IV Waste’s contract and declaring that Henry Consulting would assume services on August 1.
The Council Pushes Back
The move sparked outrage at City Hall.
City Council President J.P. Morrell said the Council had not been consulted before the decision and that no legal contract exists allowing Henry Consulting to assume the work. A judge’s prior ruling in favor of Henry’s contract is still under appeal in the Fourth Circuit, placing the deal in legal limbo.
“There is no executed, valid sanitation contract with Henry Consulting,” Morrell stated. “And the Council was not given any opportunity to weigh in before the Mayor made her decision.”
Council members argue that the Mayor overstepped her authority—again—and undermined a process that is supposed to prioritize transparency and public input.
Meanwhile, Torres called the termination “littered with politics” and criticized the administration for pulling the plug on a company that had made significant investments and, by many accounts, delivered solid results.
What’s Behind the Henry Consulting Deal?
Critics of the administration question why Cantrell seems so determined to install Henry Consulting—especially in her final months in office.
Henry’s firm is no stranger to big public contracts. In addition to the sanitation deal, Henry Consulting is leading the Bayou Phoenix project to redevelop the long-abandoned Six Flags site in New Orleans East, a project valued at up to $1 billion. The dual role has prompted speculation about whether political favoritism is driving public investment decisions—especially given the Mayor’s close-out window to shape legacy projects.
On top of that, the Henry Consulting contract raised eyebrows for other reasons. What began as a straightforward sanitation contract for the French Quarter has spiraled into deeper controversy. The Council pointed out that it allowed payments before services were rendered and required only a 50% performance bond, compared to the 100% standard for similar contracts. Those leniencies weren’t offered to other firms—and the lack of explanation only fueled suspicion.
Legal challenges further complicate the picture. Richard’s Disposal sued Henry Consulting over the unauthorized subcontractor swap, and a judge initially ruled in Henry’s favor. But the Council’s appeal suspended that ruling, leaving the contract status murky. Now, with the Mayor asserting that Henry Consulting’s contract is valid and the Council disputing that claim, sanitation services hang in legal limbo.
Emergency Powers or Executive Overreach?
This isn’t the first time the Cantrell administration has leaned on emergency declarations to fast-track major contracts. From COVID testing to infrastructure consulting, critics say the administration has used “emergency” language to bypass competitive bidding and Council approval.
It’s a trend that alarms watchdogs. The Office of Inspector General has repeatedly called for stronger procurement rules and oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse of executive authority. But in case after case, oversight has taken a backseat to expedience—and now, arguably, political loyalty.
What Workers Are Paid—and Who Profits
Lost in the political crossfire are the frontline sanitation workers.
Wage data for IV Waste is not publicly disclosed in city records. Online job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor list estimated pay for some roles—such as dispatcher or driver helper—in the $16 to $18 per hour range, but those figures are not independently verified. Henry Consulting, a consulting firm, does not typically employ sanitation crews directly. Its original subcontractor, Richard’s Disposal, has faced criticism over low wages and working conditions.
Meanwhile, the average sanitation worker in New Orleans earns about $18 per hour, according to labor data. But what those workers will earn under Henry Consulting’s next phase—if it happens—remains an open question.
The Clock Is Ticking
As of May 1, IV Waste is still picking up trash; but unless something changes, their final day will be July 30. With no signed contract approved by the Council, no clarity from the courts, and tourist season looming, New Orleans could be heading toward a sanitation crisis of its own making.
And it all started with a trash contract.
As city leaders bicker over power and process, residents are left waiting—again—for basic services to be delivered without drama. Because in New Orleans, political theater may be the one thing picked up more reliably than the garbage.
