This is a guest opinion column

One of the most significant public-private partnerships in our daily life is trash.

For most of us, trash only comes into our minds twice: once when we are rushing to pull the can down our driveway before the truck pulls away and again when something has gone wrong. Changes to the day or time, problems with their cans, or the rare case of a missed pickup can cause all manners of headaches and reasonable complaints.

We understand.

Since starting operations in 2010, my colleagues and I at Amwaste have spent a lot of time thinking about trash and all of the different ways issues with residential pick-up service can rear their heads. More importantly, we’ve invested millions of dollars to improve trash collection. And what we’ve learned is working. Just this week, Amwaste serviced 169,000 homes with a 99.6% success rate of timely trash pick-up.

But we think we can do even better.

From retrofitting outdated landfill operations to enhancing our operational efficiencies and expanding recycling opportunities for its customers, Amwaste is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its customers while remaining a regional leader in the solid waste disposal and recycling industry.

Amwaste is currently in the process of consolidating its Birmingham area operations at two locations to better serve our customers. We now manage all roll-off, commercial, bulk, and landfill services out of its Sylvan Springs Landfill location and all of its collection operations out of a new location in the Tarrant area known as “The Launchpad.” The Launchpad is a 100,000-square-foot industrial site focusing on “launching” excellent service to our Birmingham metropolitan area residential customers. The facility in Tarrant provides over 100 direct jobs, including mechanics, administrative support, management, non-CDL drivers, and CDL drivers.

Amwaste is also a company focused on professional development for its current or prospective employees. We boast a robust orientation, on-the-job training, and continuing education program and are working to develop employment pipeline opportunities with the Alabama Community College System. We offer competitive wages, upward mobility opportunities for career advancement, and full benefits.

Growing pains are a part of any growing business. Consolidating the pickup and landfill storage operations of the Cahaba Valley Solid Waste Authority helps minimize those pains, and prompt and responsive customer service helps resolve them with relative ease.

Another big issue facing the Birmingham area and the waste disposal business across the country is the environmental impact of the business’s hauling and landfill operations. The good news is that AmWaste is taking the lead on environmental issues.

Amwaste is leveraging internal policies and external partnerships to fight for a cleaner future. 2024 is bringing an even larger emphasis on the recycling side of the equation. Just in Alabama, we have partnered with large manufacturers and builders to collect and convert recyclable materials into usable products. Cutting-edge waste-to-energy conversion and environmental innovation are just a few ways this expanding company is giving back to the areas we serve.

The waste industry is one of the invisible industries that prop up much of modern life. Companies like Amwaste play a critical role in maintaining the health and sustainability of our communities. Our efforts go beyond mere waste collection—we are about driving progress and ensuring that our communities thrive.

How we manage our waste has implications for our communities’ growth and quality of life. Effective waste management is not just a service; it’s a critical infrastructure that underpins economic development and environmental sustainability.

Tom Vaughn is president of Amwaste, LLC.