In the Spotlight
Associated Refuse Haulers: Setting the Standard
Setting a standard as a proactive company in the community, while maintaining the best workforce that they can, Associated Refuse Haulers are at the top of their game.
Family owned and operated, Associated Refuse Haulers (Newtown, CT) has been in business since August 1982. The company was started by Patrick Caruso and his wife, Joanne, who both had the desire to provide the best possible service using the residential cart system. Now, Associated Refuse Haulers employs a staff of 16 and a fleet of 18 vehicles, including automated side loaders, front-end loaders, roll-offs, a rear loader and container carriers, as well as handles residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural institutions. They service Fairfield County, New Haven County and Litchfield County in Connecticut by collecting municipal solid waste, C & D, food waste, stable waste and recyclables, which are collected both single-stream and source separated.
Staying Strong
Although the state of the economy has greatly affected the anticipated growth projections, Associated Refuse Haulers has adapted by controlling their costs, hiring and training the best people they can find while educating customers on ways to reduce waste volumes. One particular challenge is that Connecticut is one of the most heavily taxed in the union with the largest tax increase recently in the State’s history. In addition, Fairfield County is one of the most expensive counties to live in. “This toxic mix has caused many businesses to close, and many people to leave the State,” says Caruso. However, he doesn’t let these facts affect the company’s ongoing business. “We offer various size carts and pricing to accommodate an every changing home environment. The same is true for our commercial customers.” Caruso is quick to point out that they also have a very proactive regional regulatory agency that provides them with valuable information on recycling and other waste disposal issues. In turn, Associated Refuse Haulers sends out an introduction newsletter to new customers explaining the waste system as well as what is required in the region for waste disposal.
When it comes to employees, the company strives to set a high standard by offering in-depth training for new staff, which involves a two to three step process. Starting with a weekly ride, the new employee will ride in the passenger seat to observe what is entailed in order to make sure he or she is comfortable with the assignment. The following week, the new employee will drive with a supervisor in the passenger seat. Finally, the employee will follow the route with any questions and answers he/she may have. By this time, the employee and supervisor should have little to no interaction.
Proud of their low turnover record, Associated Refuse Haulers makes a great effort to only hire employees with a clean driver’s record, great memory, clean appearance, as well as a polite and courteous attitude. “The type of individual you would feel comfortable with trusting him/her with a valuable piece of equipment as well as our livelihood—our customers,” stresses Caruso. The company also strives to keep up with safety issues by constantly gathering information from various associations they are affiliated with on the local, State and federal level. Caruso points that NSWMA’s Safety Monday is always a great tool.
Not only do they take pride in their employees, Associated Refuse Haulers is also proud to be very community-oriented, supporting all types of youth groups as well as many community-based events. “We supply waste removal services to all the special sports events in our town of Newtown. We also provide purchase advertising space in the local sports fundraising publications and programs,” says Caruso. “In addition, we donate containers for our rotary sponsored ‘Make a Difference Day’ and carts for Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball. We also donate containers and service for Pop Warner, PTA fundraisers, local golf tournaments and other local charitable events.”
Keeping Up with Challenges
No stranger to ongoing challenges they have faced over the years, Associated Refuse Haulers have dealt with keeping up with regulations and mandates by federal, State and local governments, a dwindling qualified labor pool, more expensive and complicated equipment, higher operating costs, severe weather damage and a changing population “Our population is getting older and require special services such as smaller carts, backdoor service and other special services,” says Caruso. “We have joined the NSWMA to keep informed of upcoming laws, regulations and safety requirements. We also have an extensive pre-hire screening program which involves background checks and past employment references.” The company trains drivers to their high expectations as well and rewards them accordingly. Expectations include being safe, no property damage, no customer complaints and great customer feedback. However, the rewards are worth it since employees are benefitted with a great work environment, special perks such as holiday bonuses, year-end bonuses and an occasional company party. In addition, the employees operate the most modern equipment with the best options possible, such as onboard computer systems, which have been purchased in order to monitor and record all activity with the ultimate goal of not having any customer complaints.
Making Their Mark
Not only has Associate Refuse Haulers aggresively took on their challenges, it is this attitude that has earned the company an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and the Newtown Economic Development Commission Certificate of Recognition, as well as being honored with Newtown’s Business of the Year Award last year. However, all the great success has not gone to Caruso’s head; he is determined to aggressively confront any test that is thrown their way. “The challenges we face today are the economy, governmental regulations and mandates, and a dwindling qualified labor force. I also believe that the industry’s number one challenge is government regulations. Whether it is flow control, disposal surcharges, container enclosures, route restrictions, hours of service and other mandated programs, we haulers have to abide with the limited tools we have. Our best defense for this is to educate as many people as possible. After all, we are ‘Environmentalists Everyday.’”
On the Horizon
Caruso stresses that Associated Refuse Haulers’ current goal is to have an integrated system using technology to enhance the collection method in the most efficient manner, such as on-board computers and routing software, as well as RFID recording. In addition, the company plans to expand more into recycling and organics by providing collection and process services for new market items.
Says Caruso, “We have been blessed by the opportunity to be part of a wonderful industry as well as being able to take advantage of new technology. We are not the producers of trash, only the transporter. At the same, we are charged with the task of finding the means of reducing the volume of trash, reclaiming any item of value, and managing employees in the most safe and economical way possible. You can say we are environmentalists everyday conducting the greatest show on earth.”
For more information on Associated Refuse Haulers, contact Patrick Caruso at (203) 426-8870 or (203) 459-4900, or e-mail [email protected].