Complaint regarding the City of Reykjavík's decision to start collecting paper waste in competition with private companies by offering residents so-called Blue bins.

The case concerned a complaint about the City of Reykjavík's operation of recycling bins for households, the so-called Blue bins, in competition with other operators in the same market.  These bins can be used for newspapers, magazines, junk mail and other printed paper. The complainant believed that, due to its position, the City of Reykjavík's operation would have a negative effect on competition. The Competition Authority concluded that the legal conditions for intervention were not met regarding the City of Reykjavík's operations, as the operations fell within the statutory duties of municipalities.   The decision, however, states the Competition Authority's assessment that the case had presented indications that the City of Reykjavík's operation of the Blue Bin service distorted competition in the waste collection market.  However, the authority's hands were tied due to the waste collection duties assigned to local authorities by law, and the precedent set by the Competition Appeals Tribunal.    The Competition Authority, however, reserved the right to later consider whether there is cause to issue an opinion to the City of Reykjavík on the basis of Article 8(1)(c).