Recology drivers win a record 12 Driver of the Year trophies

A record 12 refuse-truck drivers from Recology, San Francisco, including a record seven from San Francisco, received Driver of the Year trophies at the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) awards ceremony held during WasteExpo 2025 in Las Vegas, Recology reports.

Each year waste companies across the country submit applications for their best drivers to the national contest. Recology won the most Driver of the Year Awards in the country in this year’s competition.

The annual competition highlights refuse collectors and haulers as essential workers who perform tough and dirty jobs and help keep cities clean, NWRA says. Key criteria include years of service, difficulty of route/driving assignment and safety record. Customer and community service are also major factors. 

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Driving a refuse truck in San Francisco presents multiple challenges — steep hills, narrow streets, and many drivers, pedestrians and cyclists competing for the same space, Recology says.

“To get one driver to the top of the mountain in this competition is a true achievement. For seven drivers from one city to win awards in one year is remarkable,” Recology says.

In total, Recology drivers won 12 national awards at the NWRA ceremony in Las Vegas, May 5, 2025. Collectively, the company says, the local winners have served San Francisco for more than 200 years.

“It's so exciting to see the people who help keep our city clean get recognized at the national level!” says San Francisco resident Tracy Zinder. “San Francisco is such a tricky place to navigate, and the refuse collectors do an amazing job year-round. Congrats to all the winners, it's well deserved!”

The seven awardees from San Francisco and their contest categories include:

1^st Place

• Luis Gonalez, Roll-off, Recology Golden Gate
• Melvin Mello III, Safety Sensitive, Recology San Francisco

Honorable Mention

• Dave Barbagelata, Residential, Recology Sunset Scavenger
• Quincy Bundage, Commercial, Recology Sunset Scavenger
• Mike Burian, Safety Sensitive, Recology San Francisco
• Rigoberto Lopez, Roll-off, Recology Sunset Scavenger
• Rodney McAlavey, Safety Sensitive, Recology San Francisco

Recology is based in San Francisco and provides refuse collection, recycling and curbside composting services to cities in California, Oregon and Washington state.