Dependable Disposal testing truck to help it pick up and grow

VAN BUREN  —  A Central New York trash hauler is in the midst of a pilot program testing a new truck that’s less stressful on its pilot. 

Dependable Disposal, headquartered at 6948 Herman Road in Van Buren, started sending an automated split-body vehicle on some of its residential routes in November. The truck uses a mechanical arm to pick up recycling and trash receptacles and empty them into separate compartments for disposal or recycling.

That means a driver can operate the truck alone without having to constantly climb in and out of its cab, cutting the potential for injury. It could also allow Dependable Disposal to add more routes without having to take on the expense of rapid hiring.

The company currently operates some routes with two-man crews, each of which is made up of a driver and a laborer dumping bins. It also has routes served by lone employees who both drive and jump out of their trucks to dump bins.

No employees are in line to lose their jobs because of the new truck, according to Dependable Disposal. The automated process is intended to be better for both workers and customers, says Steve Morgan, owner and president of Dependable Disposal.

“It’s more convenient for the customer and much safer from the collection standpoint,” he says.

Convenience for customers stems from the fact that Dependable Disposal provides each customer being served by the new truck with two containers — one for recycling and one for trash. The containers come in 35-gallon, 65-gallon, and 95-gallon sizes, which are much larger than the standard “blue bin” Onondaga County recycling receptacles, Morgan says. And they’re lidded, keeping bottles and papers from blowing away when the receptacles are on the curb.

Customer feedback has been largely positive, according to Morgan. A few believe the 35-gallon containers are too large, but the company has actually picked up some new customers because of the system, he continues.

“It’s allowed us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors,” Morgan says. “None of our other competitors are offering two containers. They’re offering the trash container, but not one for recycling.”

The automated split-body truck is a significant investment. Purchasing it and its compatible containers cost a total of $350,000, Morgan says. Dependable Disposal paid for the vehicle using its own cash, along with financing from Lyons National Bank.

Morgan wants to continue the vehicle’s pilot program for another few weeks before he decides whether to add similar trucks in the future.

“We’ll probably look at it through January and then make that determination,” he says. “We want to see how the holidays go.”

The truck serves routes with a total of about 2,000 residential customers. It is one of 22 vehicles at Dependable Disposal and Morgan Rubbish Removal, a sister company Morgan owns that focuses on the commercial market.

Both companies are headquartered in 16,000 square feet of space at 6948 Herman Road. Together they employ 32 people, which is up six in the past year.

The hiring came because of a municipal contract with the town of Camillus, Morgan says. Dependable Disposal also has a municipal contract with the town of Geddes. It and its sister company serve residential and commercial customers in Onondaga County. Much of their business is in regions to the west of Syracuse, although they are also expanding in Cayuga County.

Morgan anticipates keeping employment levels steady over the next year. He declines to share specific revenue totals, but anticipates growth of about 5 percent.

“We’re always adding front-load accounts — that’s our commercial side,” he says. “Every month we’ll get three to five accounts.”

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com