Waste & Recycling Workers Week Wall of Honor
We are excited to announce the Waste & Recycling Workers Week - Wall of Honor! We are dedicated to honoring the men and women who have pioneered innovation and excelled in service through the waste management industry. We look forward to sharing about these individuals.
For Waste Connections, giving back isn’t a corporate slogan—it’s a year-round commitment woven into the company’s identity. Two of its hallmark charity events, the Waste Connections Golf Classic for Kids and the Annual Holiday Bike Build, embody this culture of generosity and community impact. Each March, hundreds gather in The Woodlands, Texas, for the Waste Connections Golf Classic for … Read more
In the often-overlooked world of waste and recycling, where the hum of trucks at dawn signals the start of another day’s quiet heroism, few names resonate with as much quiet authority as John Jennings. As the founder of Waste Pro USA, Jennings didn’t just build a company—he nurtured an industry, one respectful handshake and eco-conscious … Read more
Waste & Recycling Workers Week Unveils Wall of Honor: Celebrating Charles W. Teelon, “Uncle Charlie”
MARCH 06, 2025 – Waste & Recycling Workers Week is thrilled to launch its Wall of Honor, a tribute to the remarkable men and women who have elevated the waste management industry through innovation, service, and quiet determination. Leading the way is Charles W. Teelon, fondly known as “Uncle Charlie,” whose inspiring journey—from humble roots … Read more
“Pop” Thomas Joseph Toscano, Founder and Former CEO of Mr. T Carting Corp. Thomas Joseph Toscano, lovingly known as “Pop” by the Mr. T Carting family, founded Mr. T Carting in 1947, then known as Tom Toscano Carting. Born in 1926 in Ridgewood, New York to Italian immigrants, he served in the Navy for two … Read more
What’s the secret of Rumpke’s success? Watch as the Rumpke Family shares how their father and grandfather, President Emeritus Bill Rumpke Sr. used hard work, innovation and traditional values, to make Rumpke one of the leading waste and recycling firms in the country. It’s also why Bill Rumpke Sr. was named the Colerain Chamber of … Read more
Dean Buntrock Dean Buntrock began his waste industry career in 1956 at Ace Scavenger Service, his family’s business. In 1968, he combined his company to form Waste Management, Inc. (WMI) with annual revenues of $5 million. In 1971, with Buntrock as the Chairman and CEO, WMI went public with revenue at $10 million. By the … Read more
H. Wayne Huizenga Wayne Huizenga co-founded Waste Management, Inc. in 1971 and served as its president, chief operating officer, and director before retiring from the company in 1984. He also founded Republic Services, Inc., served as its chairman, and now sits on the company’s board. Today, he is the owner and chairman of Huizenga Holdings, … Read more
Susan Eppes In 1991, Susan Eppes joined Browning-Ferris Industries as a Manager for Safety and Loss Control Services designing and developing award-winning safety and health training videos, modifying facility design elements to reduce accidents and injuries, and managing technical loss control support at landfills, medical waste processing facilities, and recycling operations. By 1997, she had … Read more
Ellen Harvey When Ellen Harvey joined E.L. Harvey & Sons in 1989, she already had a long history of designing and developing corporate educational programs starting with a B.A. degree in Education and a M.A. degree in Education Administration. At E.L. Harvey, she became the Executive Vice President of Public Relations, working with local, regional, … Read more
Charles C. Appleby Charlie Appleby is one of the founding organizers of Advanced Disposal Services at its inception in 2000 and serves as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer. As part of the company’s management team, he has grown the business to become the largest privately-held solid waste business in the United States and … Read more