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2008-11-27  BUSINESS POST | Waste Pro making moves in Georgia
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| | by Bob Pepalis | | |
November 30, 2008
Can you turn garbage into gold?
Waste Pro's president, Fred Wood, said that's what the owner of the company has done. John Jennings is "one of these guys, whatever he touches turns to gold."
Wood has been with him for more than 20 years, and helped him start another garbage company, Jennings Environmental, back in 1992. The company merged with USA Waste several years later, and was then bought out by Waste Management.
A core group of people left that company to start up Waste Pro.
They started with the purchase of a three-truck operation in Athens. From Bulldog Waste and four or five other companies bought around Athens, it grew to be what he said is the largest hauler in Athens.
A small Atlanta company was added, but there wasn't much other activity in the Georgia part of the business. Management staff lived in Florida. Jennings and Wood realized they had two choices: get someone up here to run it, or shut it down. Wood headed north to take charge.
"We were doing $80,000 a month; now its $1.6 million," Wood said.
A recent purchase of American Recycling expanded its presence in Atlanta, and added its first Alabama operations in Birmingham, part of the company's green efforts.
Other purchases have been the CD Landfill in Cherokee County, a waste transfer station in Acworth and three hauling companies in Atlanta.
"We've grown quite rapidly in the last year and a half," Wood said. "I'd like to be at $100 million a year here in five years," Wood said.
Buying companies and seeking additional contracts are the means to growth.
Wood sends Vernon Tynes, his associate director of municipal marketing, to the cities and counties around metro Atlanta in particular to find out when waste hauling contracts run out, and to find out what services those cities want.
Tynes said contracts in Cumming, Alpharetta and Johns Creek will be coming up in the next few months or years, and he's finding those answers.
The company has bids out in Gwinnett County with Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, and awaits that organization's decision. The county limits waste haulers to only a few zones at one time, with no company allowed to haul for the entire county. The zones range from 8,000 homes to 22,500 homes, and a hauler can be awarded up to three zones. Whatever companies win the zones will start on contracts Jan. 1, 2009.
Hiring the best employees and training them in customer service makes them better, he said. And an employee bonus program rewards that customer service.
Employees with at least a year in service with no safety issues get bonuses of $250 per year, cumulative. Every licensed CDL drive in the company who complets three years with no accidents, no workers' compensation claims, no legitimate customer complaints and who maintains a positive attitude at all times – easy to figure if there are no customer compalints – gets a check for $10,000.
"We've given out 59 of those," Wood said.
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Reader Comments
These are our reader's opinions and thoughts.The opinions on this site are posted by our readers, and are not edited by Appen Inc.
June 02, 2009 | 01:21 AM
The company I was using (Quality Waste) was purchased by waste pro. However we were not notified (Surprise!) We continued Paying Quality Waste For the service Waste pro was not providing. Once I got In touch with waste pro to cancel they tried to tell me I owed them 275.00 Because I was auto-paying the Wrong company. So I had my Attorney i.e. Step-father send them a letter that We will be taking them to small claims court because the amount I have paid for service I havent recieved nearly doubled what they were asking for. Needless to say they dropped the service charge and said they would refund what I have paid. I called Robertson sanitation and have not had a problem. As for the Refund it was never recieved but, I chalked that up as a lesson learned. Just say NO to Waste Pro!!!!
Rick, Loganville
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Gwinnett County Ga
May 02, 2009 | 04:05 PM
You missed my trash pick up on Friday May 2nd. In fact you missed my whole neighborhood. You were picked for me by the Gwinnett County Commissioners. The previous provider charged me an exit fee --so I will not go back to them- Although the service was better. You have missed me 3 timesin 4 months. When I called about 7 PM your message was that you close at 5 or so. So your closed when most folks get home and realized they have been missed. You need someone to answer until 8 or 9 PM and you need someone to pick up missed customers. Im serious!! By the way we put our trash out Thursday nite
Mike Pattillo, Stone Mountain Ga
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Where is My Refund
April 24, 2009 | 01:45 PM
After numerous calls to Waste Pro I still have not received my refund and it is April 24, 2009. When I was sent a bill for the new service that was going to take over I paid my bill promply as I do all of my bills. I just wish Waste Pro would step up and send me my money due me. They never provided me the service and this is bad business practices.
Mrs. Davis, Norcross, Ga
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It must be a nightmare for WastePro
March 23, 2009 | 02:24 PM
I was with WastePro before the scheduled changeover. The company was very good and has continued to be so, even though my schedule was changed from Wednesday to Thursday without prior notice. I just left the can on the street when it wasn't picked up on Wednesday. After two or three weeks, I realized that I should put my garbage out on Wednesday night instead of Tuesday night! The day of the week for garbage pick up is not a big deal with me. Realizing that all of the problems WastePro must be having with all the uncertainty of the rulings in Gwinnett County, I will not complain too much until all the government rules are solidly in place. WastePro is a good company with nice employees. I am happy to have that company's services in my neighborhood.
Penny Williams, Snellville, GA 30039
When am I going to get my refund Waste Pro?
February 23, 2009 | 06:58 PM
I have been waiting since January 5th to get the refund on my service.
I have called numerous times and left several messages that were not returned. It is almost March and they are still blowing me off. There is no email to reach them, and three of their staff have told me the refund was in the mail, but nothing.
Jonie Anthony, Athens, Georgia
Can't get in touch with Waste-Pro
February 04, 2009 | 04:15 PM
I know Waste Pro should be my new provider for trash pick up. I read that in the paper and saw it on the news. I understand they purchased my old provider and of course went up on the cost. My problem is: I have not received an invoice, and my service has been interrupted, but I cannot for the life of me contact Waste Pro without getting a recording that says the call can not be answered at that time. I need to get my trash picked up.
Dan & Cindy Amick, Lawrenceville, Ga
February 04, 2009 | 10:21 AM
when are you going to pick up my trash can you delivered? I stayed with my original trash company. i want to get rid of the container.
Reggie, Lawrenceville
Mrs Yvonne Bright
February 02, 2009 | 11:42 AM
I too live in Gwinnett County, GA and was notified by the County that my waste collector was changing. I submitted payment to Wastepro in December. I was subsequently notified that there is an open dispute which needs to be resolved. However, Wastepro had, at that time, delivered a trash container to my address. I notified Wastepro on January 8 to come and collect the container and process my refund. I was told that it would take 4-6 weeks for a refund (although it only took 3 days to process my check) and someone would come out the next day to collect the container. That did not happen. Again, I notified Wastepro on 1/16, and on 1/21. I also notified the county on January 29 and they committed to sending an email to Wastepro. As of today (February 2) the container has still not been picked up. If Wastepro is concerned as indicated by this page, about customer service, then this is not readily evident. I am currently trying to get a call in to Clark Howard - perhaps some additional on air focus on this problem we are having in Gwinnett Country will help us homeowners, whose only error was in trying to do the right thing, resolve this issue.
Yvonne Bright, Snellville, GA 30039
2 trash providers?
January 27, 2009 | 02:11 PM
I got a letter stating that Waste Pro would be our new garbage provider and I paid their invoice. Allied Waste is the one picking up our garbage and say they are going to continue to be our provider and sent me another invoice. I the mean time Waste Pro processed my check. A customer rep. from Waste Pro needs to call me instead of wasting my time sitting on the phone waiting to talk to someone. Waste Pro, you got my name and address get my phone number and call me.
Kristen Burnette, Lilburn, Ga. 30047
mrs
January 15, 2009 | 02:05 PM
in december i receive a bill that they put my collector with this company and they tell to me i go en receive 2 conteiner for collection i send the payment of the bill and now is january 15 and i still waiting for they collect my garbage and i already nmade the payment for 3 months an is almost gone the first if every month is like this "wonderful" i give my money free for any service please let me know if we go and receive any service because i try call but no body answer yours phone is only a machine telling the next operator go answer i waiting 28 min until they answer i hope eventually they working better
ALMA AGUILAR ( M.A.), norcross
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