1997 Design Contest Winners1

Dana Leisten

Attention to detail counts. Just ask any of our six design contest winners. From the one-truck Baldy operation to the 581-truck Superior Services firm, solid waste companies are building their reputations by creating a visible, positive image.

As heated competition continues to scorch lesser players in this field, a sharp company logo, clever painting or an environmental photo can convey professional usiness practices and win over customers - with style.

For 19 years, World Wastes has showcased innovative and eye-catching designs in recycling and refuse collection trucks, and 1997's crop of winners are no exception. Their designs show company pride and dedication to service. These are not your average garbage companies.

Best front load truck Established in 1973, Sanipac Inc., Eugene, Ore., was formed through the combined efforts and resources of a few smaller companies.

"Locally owned and operated, Sanipac has grown with the community and now employ 126 people with a fleet of 75 various recycling and collection trucks," says Tim Gurr, the company's commercial route supervisor.

"In 1985, Bob Fenstermacher, our company president, with the help of Funk & Associates, a local marketing/communications company, came up with our present tri-color design," he continues. "All of our residential and dropbox trucks carry this pattern."

The truck pictured is a 1996 Peterbilt model 320 "powered by our engine of choice a Caterpillar 3306C at 300 horsepower," Gurr says. The frontload truck body is a Maxon 38-yard "Legalone."

Best recycling vehicle Superior Services Inc., Sheboygan, Wis., formed an Identity Standardization program in November 1995, and since then, all of its trucks, containers and decals use the logo. "We wanted to choose a design that would be easy for our customers to recognize," says Gary Blacktopp, the company's operating vice president for the Midwest. "We selected this particular design because the arrows express our commitment to be part of a total solid waste solution and because of its clear and sharp appearance."

Superior is a regional integrated solid waste services company providing solid waste collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Since its original consolidation of 22 businesses in 1993, the company has acquired 31 businesses to build its network of 10 owned or managed solid waste landfills, 23 solid waste collection operations, seven transfer stations and 11 recycling facilities. Superior's objective, says Blacktopp, is to be one of the largest fully-integrated providers of solid waste collection and disposal services in each market it serves.

With approximately 581 trucks, the company currently services more than 320,000 customers in Wisconsin and also in parts of Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsyl-vania and Michigan. This year's contest winner is an In-ternational truck with a Labrie body.

Best tilt frame A winner at the U.S. Diesel Trucking Nationals for Best Appearance and Best Truck Overall, Ace Environmental Ser-vices, Cliffwood, N.J., has cultivated a look to be proud of.

"All of our trucks are Volvo, Autocars or Macks," says John Glauda, the company's president. "We use A-merican Roll-off for our hoists and Leach for packer bodies."

This year's winner is an Autocar with paint and lettering designed by Vic Kessler, John Glauda Jr. and Ken Navatta, the company's field supervisor.

Ace Environmental maintains a fleet of 22 vehicles. The company currently is involved in equipment leasing and providing recycling services for D&J Marangi Inc. in New Jersey's Middlesex and Mon-mouth counties.

Best side load truck Waste Management of Phoenix operates from two locations: Phoenix South and Phoenix North. With 156 vehicles, the company offers a full compliment of solid waste collection and recycling services.

The winning truck is a Volvo White/cab and chassis with a Heil Rapid Rail Body. "We selected this design to raise the general publics' awareness of the environment," says Mark Duncan, the company's division president. "We thought the kids were a real attention-getter, and the public response has been overwhelming."

Under contract to Phoenix, the truck services 95,000 homes in the city's northwest residential area. The company also services 12,000 commercial customers in Maricopa Coun-ty, Ariz.

Other unique designs include front load trucks and roll-off boxes with Arizona desert scenery.

Best rear load truck Privately owned and operated by Craig and Evon Baldy, Baldy Sani-tation Inc., Maple Plain, Minn., is a one-truck operation offering commercial hauling and recycling service since 1978.

The winning truck is a 1997 Ford, recently purchased from Lakeland Ford in St. Paul, Minn., and the body is a 29-yard Leach, purchased from ABM Equip-ment, Hopkins, Minn.

The couple added "Oscar" to the rearloader's body in 1982, because Craig felt it was an appropriate character, says Evon. With their new truck purchase this year, the Baldys jazzed their design up even more by adding "Taz" to the vehicle's hood.

This dynamite, tooney-truck was painted by Lenni Schwarts of Krazy Kolors, St. Paul.

Best compactor With 23 vehicles, Waste Disposals Ltd., Trinidad, has been providing its clients with containerized bulk removal service of both solid and liquid wastes for more than 17 years.

"We have more than 500 customers mainly in the private sector (manufacturers, light and heavy industry, offices, restaurants, etc.)," says Allan de Boehmler, the company's sales and marketing manager. "We also do municipal collections for Trinidad and regional corporations."

"The equipment, a Marathon RJ225 Compactor with an OC37, was in-stalled at the International Exposition in 1996," he continues. "Because of the large crowds, we wanted a design that would be eye-catching with an environmental theme.

While perusing a book about gardens, our managing director noticed a simple, yet interesting photograph showing leaves with a black background." And as they say ... the rest is history.