Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

As batteries have become more prevalent in our daily lives, they’ve also become commonplace in household waste and recycling bins. Unfortunately, this has resulted in an alarming increase in fires and explosions in the trucks and facilities we rely on to manage our waste and recyclables. These fires—which occur when batteries get punctured or crushed—endanger the safety of the men and women who run these operations, as well as the first responders who come to help. Many people are unaware of how to discard their unwanted lithium-ion batteries. Here’s what you should know: ❌ Don’t put lithium-ion batteries into your recycling bin ❌ Don’t put lithium-ion batteries into your trash bin ✅ Do visit Call2Recycle to locate your nearest free drop-off location for old batteries. News Center Maine recently connected with Casella Vice President of Communications, Jeff Weld, and Market Area Manager in Northern Maine, Jim Dunning, on proper disposal and the dangers improper disposal causes.

Each year, Casella works with customers to recover more than 1.4 million tons of valuable resources from society's discards. These resources return to supply chains to become new products, reducing the need to extract, transport, and process new resources. ♻️ "Extracting materials from the waste stream and creating new resources has always been a large part of the Casella strategy," said Casella Vice President of Resource Solutions Bob Cappadona. "Since that first truck, it's been a large aspect of the business, which means we can provide our customers with the recycling expertise and advice they need to meet their goals." To learn more about our Materials Management Sustainability Goals, visit https://lnkd.in/dCMS2qJ.

Casella Resource Manager Tom Segear joined the Environmental Business Council of New England, Inc. on the Energy Environment Economy Podcast to discuss our partnership with Boston University to repurpose items through recycling and donation to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. 🎙️ The episode, Goodwill, Not Landfill, covers our collaborative initiative with BU to reduce the impact of move-out season by diverting materials away from landfills. ♻️ “Our goals on campus are centered around finding the highest and best use for the material being generated, lowering the amount of waste that is going into landfills, and increasing the diversion rate,” explained Casella Resource Manager Tom Segear. “Due to these programs, during the move-out season this past year, we saw a 30-ton decrease in waste. Every year we review feedback and data we are collecting to ensure we are making improvements to these programs to increase efficiency.”

Behind the Belt: The Mechanics of Material Recovery 🔧 The diverse skills of the mechanics at our Material Recovery Facilities are essential for safe and efficient materials processing. As technology evolves, so do they, constantly learning, innovating, and adapting to master the tools needed to tackle each day’s challenges. With countless opportunities for growth, the sky is the limit. “Casella has a lot of opportunities for our mechanics,” said Training Manager Chuck Lyman. “You start out with the basics, build on it, and there are endless opportunities for growth.”

Competing against hundreds of drivers from across the country, including representatives from top industry peers, Casella driver Juan Perez of Millsboro, DE took first place in the Rear-Load Truck category at the recent SWANA International Truck Road-E-O in Atlanta, GA. 🥇 The mission of the annual event is to provide operators of solid waste collection and landfill equipment an opportunity to showcase their skills during a one-day event where contestants navigate various field courses and are scored according to their proficiency. 🚛 👏 “Juan’s focus, commitment to safety, and surgical-like precision in vehicle operation have set a high standard for his division, our region, and the entire company,” said Kyle Larkin, Casella Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region. “Juan’s victory has officially placed Casella on the international Truck Road-E-O map.”

Sorting with Purpose for 28 Years ♻️ For 28 years, Sorter Elsa Leal has been making the vast areas served by Casella's Charlestown, MA Material Recovery Facility cleaner and greener. Embracing every aspect of her role, Leal finds fulfillment in her work and is dedicated to removing contamination from the waste stream, ensuring recyclable materials are being processed effectively.

At Casella, we celebrate the Power of Hard Work each and every day. 💪 Our drivers and technicians are fueled with purpose and deeply committed to service excellence. The Power of Hard Work is what motivates and rewards us all. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/enVdefQB.

Casella Pulls Together for the Travis Mills Foundation 🇺🇸 ✈️ “We had a great team assembled. Over 25 employees and their families came out to support the Travis Mills Foundation. They all came here on their time to volunteer,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Solid Waste Operations Sean Steves. “We are deeply committed to our veteran community. We find they’re a very disciplined, process-oriented segment of our society, and we love getting them on board.”

Transforming manufacturing waste into valuable materials, Operations Manager Tom Champagne and his team in Springfield, MA are focused on advancing recycling methods. ♻️ Going beyond traditional recycling, Champagne is helping to create sustainable solutions for customers, effectively turning recyclables into essential resources. "This is the best job that I've ever had," explained Champagne. "It allows you to be creative and find innovative solutions for real-world problems. There is a new challenge every day."

Our people are at the center of our ability to evolve, innovate, and grow. By investing in our people, we develop a safe, engaged, and ready workforce that can support future growth and resilience. 🤝 We offer a variety of programs that elevate employee engagement including hosting a monthly orientation program, Core Values and Employee Engagement Training, Emerging Leaders, and the newly established Foundations of Casella Leadership training. 📚 "With the consistent growth we experience as a company, our goal is not only to provide training opportunities that engage and empower our newest team leaders, but also continue to develop, reward, and retain our existing managers," said Talent Development Manager Abbey Thomas. "We are proud to offer our leaders training through legacy Casella cultural and values-driven curriculums."