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In a direct showdown with the Boston Government, three large recycling companies bidding on the city?s recycling contract are refusing to obey a 1998 city ordinance requiring all city contractors to pay their workers a living wage. As the three multi-million dollar companies are the only ones bidding on the contract, Mayor Thomas M. Menino is facing a tough decision between allowing the city?s recycling program to lapse when the current contract runs out, and issuing a waiver that would allow the contractors to pay their workers less than the $10.25 ?living wage.? Supporters of the living wage law are arguing against a waiver as an invitation to future violations of the law, as are members of Recycling Action---who insist that companies must not be allowed to force governments to choose between equally important social policies.