WasteExpo 2018: Cleaning up and taking care

Waste companies that experienced last year’s natural disasters not only had plans for their customers but also for their employees. Speakers outlined their methods during the session Super Storms, Natural Disasters and Catastrophic Occurrences: Navigating Cleanup and Recovery at WasteExpo 2018 April 23 in Las Vegas.

WasteExpo 2018 is organized by the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, and information, event, commerce and education provider Waste 360.

Marcel Dalby, director of operations at Waste Management of TexOma, said during his presentation that Houston-based Waste Management (WM) takes a “people first” approach when it comes to natural disasters.

The company’s employees have prestorm emergency contact information and travel plans, and identification badges allow them to enter their homes if they are damaged by the storm. The company also has what Dalby called a “hurricane czar” in charge of prehurricane preparation.

Customers are updated with the latest information possible at the start of hurricane season using the company’s website, social media accounts and community outreach initiatives. “Facebook and Twitter are always great for communication to residents, especially,” Dalby said during the conference.

Dalby said the company has a seven-day plan that takes place before forecasted landfall that includes daily operations calls to inform employees on the latest information in certain areas, using the website service alerts, using press releases to share tips and reminders for preparation and connecting with customers through email and phone calls.

He said that during Hurricane Harvey, employees also became victims of the storm when 250 employees were displaced or had damaged homes. After the storm, the company provided hotel accommodations to employees, along with food and supplies such as fuel for employee vehicles. WM also implemented an employee hotline that connected to employees to a manager.

After Harvey, Dalby said WM donated more than $3 million toward recovery efforts. The company also donated the corporate jet to send medical supplies to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Rita.

WCA Waste Corp., Houston, took a similar approach to its efforts during Harvey. Matt Graham, regional vice president, said during the session that the WCA Ralston Road Landfill was flooded, along with its neighboring hauling company East Yard Hauling.

Before the hurricane, WCA coordinated cleanup and collection plans using phone calls to management, texted real-time updates to customers and used social media and its website to update customers. Operationally, WCA planned its logistics, infrastructure support, placement and fuel of fleets and prepared its landfills for the additional tonnages for poststorm collections.

“You need to have a plan in place,” Graham said during his presentation. “But you need to keep it fluid because you’ll never know what happens.”

Graham said the company had three main priorities after Harvey: to help the 90 staff members that were displaced during the hurricane through a GoFundMe campaign that raised $68,000; to accommodate the doubled landfill volumes safely; and ensure businesses, municipalities and housing authorities were given payment terms that would help them get back on their feet.

During cleanup and collection, WCA workers used claw trucks to help load debris from the curb to ensure safety. This helped the company balance what Graham referred to as “workload versus fatigue,” making sure crews picking up debris were not overworked and overheated.

Graham said any waste company can benefit from improved communication methods during natural disasters. “You can always do better at communication,” he said. The emphasis on communication by speakers shows how it helps companies stay on the ball during crises, both internally and with its customers.

WasteExpo is taking place April 23-26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.