Taking care of business

Filco Carting Corp., a more than 100-year-old waste management company once based out of Brooklyn, New York, has had quite a busy year.

Starting Jan. 2, Filco took over waste and recycling services for Paterson and Cresskill, New Jersey—a notable step in the growth of the firm, which previously had been focused on New York City.

Paterson is the third largest city in New Jersey and had been serviced by Fairfield, New Jersey-based Roselle Disposal for the past 17 years. Cresskill is a small town located in northern Bergen County and previously was serviced by Teaneck, New Jersey- based Interstate Waste Services.

In addition to its recently acquired collection contracts, Filco relocated its headquarters to Closter, New Jersey.

Joseph Monopoli, director of communications and outreach for Filco, told Waste Today in January that the company saw growth potential in New Jersey, which prompted it to bid on new contracts.

“Most of the executive team was born in New Jersey, so, this was the most logical step. … While we are and will always be laser- focused on New York City and the five boroughs, we see enormous potential in the New Jersey marketplace,” he said.

To prepare for the transition, Filco added 12 new trucks to its fleet, including seven Battle Motors trucks as well as Peterbilt and Mack models. Additionally, the company purchased five small pickup trucks for its route supervision team in New Jersey.

“[We’ve been prepping] for the start of these services since the summer of 2023 and trained all new employees. After a successful job fair and safety training sessions, the hiring process began,” Monopoli said. “These steps made us prepared for when we started services for both New Jersey contracts on Jan. 2.”

In a recent Q&A with Waste Today, Monopoli shared why Filco pursued the ambitious bid on new contracts outside of New York, how the process went and tips for a successful transition.

Waste Today (WT): Walk me through the bidding process for the new contracts. How did you set yourself up for success?

Joseph Monopoli (JM): In Filco Carting’s 114-year history, 2024 marks the first year where we’re collecting waste in New Jersey, which is an exciting time for the entire Filco team. Bidding on Cresskill and Paterson, New Jersey, followed a similar process, from the moment the bid arrived at Filco’s headquarters until the bid’s opening date. While this process included filling out and attaching the required documentation that each town requested be submitted in the bid package, the team we created for securing these contracts is what set Filco up for success as we continue to create a footprint in New Jersey.

This team, made up of members from various departments, is responsible for making sure the appropriate forms are signed and filled out accurately along with ensuring that all requirements for each bid are met. This also includes submitting a pricing proposal worthy of being the most qualified lowest bidder.

The day we learned that we had secured the Cresskill and Paterson contracts was a win for Filco as it proved that we are fully capable of exceeding the same standards set in New York City and applying them to towns in New Jersey.

WT: Why were these contracts attractive to Filco? Did they coincide with the company’s move to Closter?

JM: One of Filco’s primary goals is to expand our business beyond New York City. The opportunity to move our headquarters to New Jersey was pivotal in establishing our presence in a new market outside the one we’ve served since 1910. Relocating to New Jersey was also beneficial as many members of our executive team reside there, providing a fresh start for our team overall.

In discussing these contracts, the proximity of Cresskill to our new office made it an attractive option for submitting and securing the bid. This closeness allows us to address any operational issues in real time. Furthermore, being the primary waste hauler for Cresskill holds sentimental value as it is the hometown of several members of our team. They take great pride in knowing their family business is serving the community they grew up in.

Our interest in Paterson was sparked by the prospect of becoming the primary waste hauler for one of New Jersey’s largest cities, with an estimated population of 150,000 residents. Although we recognized the magnitude of this undertaking, securing this contract was crucial as it solidified our position in the New Jersey waste industry.

WT: What were the details of the new contracts?

JM: Each town in New Jersey has unique bid specifications that must be met to become the primary waste hauler. For instance, Paterson, with an estimated population of 150,000, requires the bidder to have an adequate number of trucks and equipment to service a city of that size.

In contrast, Cresskill, with approximately 2,500 residents, necessitates three types of services: waste collection, recycling and yard waste collection. Paterson, however, only requires waste collection as their city’s Department of Public Works manages the other waste streams.

A significant challenge for Filco was that both contracts commenced on the same date, Jan. 2. Despite this, our operations are now running smoothly, especially as the summer season intensifies.

WT: How did Filco prepare to service these new areas?

JM: Preparing to become the primary waste hauler for Cresskill and Paterson involved tackling several challenging tasks. One of the key tasks was recruiting a skilled fleet of drivers and helpers. To achieve this, we organized a job fair in Paterson, aimed at creating employment opportunities in the city and encouraging participation in an often-overlooked industry.

The job fair was a great success, drawing an impressive turnout. After selecting our crew, we immediately commenced comprehensive safety and driving training to ensure they were fully prepared for the start date of each contract.

To support our New Jersey operations, we also created a dedicated section on our website that includes essential information on collection dates, acceptable materials, holiday schedules and more.

WT: How else did Filco prepare for the transition?

JM: In addition to acquiring the 15 trucks required to fulfill both contracts, we also had to procure additional containers as our roll-off division in New Jersey commenced operations, supporting our expansion efforts in the state.

We ensured that our supervisors in New Jersey were fully equipped with access to our computer system. This enables them to efficiently route each stop and input necessary notes into our system, ensuring seamless communication with our office regarding any schedule adjustments or changes in materials being collected.

WT: What community outreach methods did Filco employ?

JM: Currently, we are actively engaging our audience on social media by sharing our regular content and running sponsored advertisements to announce the launch of our roll-off division in New Jersey. Additionally, we keep our customers informed through email newsletters, notifying them promptly of any changes to our usual schedules.

Moreover, we prioritize responsiveness on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, ensuring swift replies to messages and addressing issues promptly across both New York and New Jersey.

Facilitating a smooth transition for the start of these contracts involved providing our contact details and website links to each municipality. This allows residents to easily reach out to us for services and enables towns to refer customers to our team for assistance with any issues that may arise.

The author is associate editor of Waste Today and can be reached at hrischar@gie.net.