Haulers are at the heart of our efforts, and we are proud to be their champion. We have thousands of suppliers providing recycling, upcycling, and reuse services, and we intend to continue to grow that network annually.

These haulers do not enjoy the same kind of stable, long-term contracts that the major national haulers have. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many small haulers have been at risk of going out of business, as traditional customers—restaurants, retailers, small businesses—reduced their contracts amid a steep decline in business activity. We were able to stabilize the revenue base of small haulers by connecting them to contracts with our national customers, such as Best Buy (BBY) and Starbucks (SBUX). By putting our network to work on these national contracts, we were able to provide significant economic value alongside our environmental mission.

Our goal is to become the circular economy’s market maker—connecting customers and their recyclable material, which is the feedstock of a circular economy, to the haulers who can help divert waste from landfills.

Our hauler network consists mostly of small business owners who each can encourage the creation and sustainment of the circular economy. Our goal is to strengthen them, provide them with business opportunities, give them access to cutting-edge technologies that extend the life of their equipment, and promote purchasing and procurement opportunities to reduce costs. By digitizing their infrastructures, we are making small haulers into a far more efficient and effective source of value and economic opportunity. Each small hauler’s truck is now connected to a nationwide, linked system capable of major gains in customer service and waste reduction.

In addition, we regularly survey and screen our haulers through our hauler portal to be sure they are following relevant laws and observe responsible and sustainable business practices. We also seek out haulers and other suppliers that are minority-, veteran-, or women-owned businesses.