Company Coordinates Post-Inauguration Cleanup of National Mall and Parade Route
Collects More Than 50 Tons of Waste and Recyclables
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2009--President Barack Obama's inaugural speech to the nation began with the
words: "My fellow citizens, I stand here today humbled by the task
before us..." Those were the same thoughts of the 1,350 workers who faced
the daunting challenge of cleaning up the National Mall and parade route
following all Presidential Inauguration festivities. The clean up effort
was coordinated by Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG), a leading
provider of solid waste collection, transfer and disposal services, and
its local operations, Allied Waste Services, in Washington, DC and
Virginia.
"This massive clean up job was a historic project for us," said Melvin
Pfannenstein, General Manager for Republic Services' local division,
Allied Waste Services. "Cleaning up after 75,000 fans following the
Super Bowl is one thing. Cleaning up after almost 2 million people
following the Presidential Inauguration is something else altogether."
The inauguration festivities began on Sunday, January 18, with some
400,000 people attending concerts and speeches. Activities continued to
swell until the historic inauguration and Presidential parade on
Tuesday, January 20, which more than 1.8 million people attended.
Immediately following the swearing-in ceremony, speech and benediction,
Republic Services' 1,350 employees and temporary workers began work to
clean up the trash that was left in the wake of the festivities. The
cleanup consisted of emptying recycling boxes and trash removal on the
National Mall following Sunday's concert, trash removal and recycling at
the National Mall following the swearing in ceremonies and cleanup along
the parade route.
Approximately 50 tons of waste and recyclables were collected from the
National Mall and the parade route.
Republic Services was retained for the massive Inauguration Day cleanup
following the company's performance at the Election Night celebration in
Chicago's Grant Park in November. "The event organizers were so
impressed with our work after cleaning up Grant Park that they contacted
our local division in Washington, DC to work on the inauguration," said
Christine Meket, Sales Manager at Allied Waste Services in Washington,
DC.
The planning for the inauguration cleanup began in December, as Republic
Services and its local operations worked closely with Washington DC
officials and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. "This was an
enormous effort," said Mr. Pfannenstein. "We quickly engaged the help of
AAA Trash and Recycling, which is a local Republic division in Virginia.
Together, our team did an outstanding job."
"Everyone pitched in to help," continued Mr. Pfannenstein. "We had
managers, accountants, supervisors, drivers, helpers, billing clerks,
sales representatives, customer service personnel and mechanics working
on the clean up. It was a tremendous demonstration of our employees'
commitment to the highest level of customer service and satisfaction."
About Republic Services, Inc.
Republic Services, Inc. is a leading provider of solid waste collection,
transfer and disposal services in the United States. The Company's
operating units are focused on providing solid waste services for
commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Allied
Waste Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Services.
CONTACT: Republic Services, Inc.
Will Flower
480-718-6565 (Office)
954-288-0388 (Cell)
Source: Republic Services, Inc.