State officials have filed a complaint against Pasco-based Prieto Landscaping LLC for allegedly providing solid waste collection services without a state-required certification. 

Staff with the state’s Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) say Prieto transported and disposed of solid waste, including construction materials, in September and October 2024, according to a release. 

State law requires companies to get a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the UTC before providing solid waste services. 

UTC staff say the company was notified about the certification requirements but continued to provide solid waste services. The agency’s staff documented 147 violations of the law and are now recommending a penalty of $1,000 per violation, or $147,000 in total. 

The UTC will hold a prehearing conference at 9:30 a.m. May 9 to establish a schedule for reviewing the complaint and determining appropriate enforcement actions. 

Prieto did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.