Audit Finds Thousands of Invalid Addresses Inflating New Orleans Trash Contract Costs

A recent review by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor uncovered that almost 8% of New Orleans' sanctioned sanitation locations are potentially improper, encompassing vacant lots, duplicated entries and addresses that no longer exist. Among the findings were 4,900 retired addresses that remained on the payment list and 442 duplicate sites that resulted in $318,767 of excess spending from December 2022 through March 2026.

The audit also flagged more than 8,000 locations that appear ineligible according to parish assessor data, such as hotels required to manage their own waste. Further discrepancies emerged from a lack of comparison with Sewerage and Water Board billing records, revealing thousands of sites receiving service without corresponding fees. In response, the city will spend roughly seven months cleaning the database, removing duplicates and retired entries, and verifying vacant properties, followed by a fresh cost-of-service analysis before adjusting sanitation fees.