Republic driver wins NWRA honor

Felix Martinez, a Republic Services residential collection driver from Mount Prospect, Illinois, has been named the 2023 National Residential Driver of the Year by the Arlington, Virginia-based National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA).

Republic calls the award “the highest honor in the industry” and says Martinez was recognized out of more than 800 nominees for his strong record of safety and for providing great customer service.

"Safety is always our top priority at Republic Services,” says Jon Vander Ark, president and CEO of the Phoenix-based national waste and recycling firm. “Felix has consistently exemplified this company value for 26 years, helping keep both our team members and our communities safe. We are proud to honor Felix for this industry recognition, and it was a privilege to hand him the keys to his new truck with his name on it.”

Martinez has worked at Republic for 26 years, with the company saying he is “widely regarded by his local team as a dependable and consistent driver, committed to serving his customers.” Martinez also assists as a behind-the-wheel instructor, training new drivers on how to perform their job safely.

“His customers recognize him for always going above and beyond to deliver a great experience," Republic says. "As part of the nomination process, one customer explained how Martinez routinely went out of his way to help her family remove debris from their recently flooded home. Her husband was unable to help with the cleanup due to an illness, and Martinez made it his mission to see the project through.”

The NWRA Driver of the Year award has been designed to recognize drivers who safely operate their trucks, maintain an exceptional performance record and enhance the overall safety and image of the environmental services industry. NWRA judges score nominees based on the difficulty of their routes, considering factors such as the number of pickups and weekly miles traveled, as well as feedback from customers.

Every year since 2006, Republic says its employees have won various NWRA Driver and Operator of the Year award categories, "highlighting the company’s commitment to safety and serving its customers.”

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An elevated cab is one of several features improving operational efficiency at the Macon County Solid Waste Management agency in North Carolina. When it comes to waste management, efficiency, safety and reliability are priorities driving decisions from day one, according to staff members of the Macon County Solid Waste Management Department in western North Carolina. The agency operates a recycling plant in a facility originally designed to bale incoming materials. More recently, the building has undergone significant transformations centered around one machine: a SENNEBOGEN telehandler (telescopic handler).

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SENNEBOGEN 340G telehandler improves the view in Macon County, NC

An elevated cab is one of several features improving operational efficiency at the Macon County Solid Waste Management agency in North Carolina. When it comes to waste management, efficiency, safety and reliability are priorities driving decisions from day one, according to staff members of the Macon County Solid Waste Management Department in western North Carolina. The agency operates a recycling plant in a facility originally designed to bale incoming materials. More recently, the building has undergone significant transformations centered around one machine: a SENNEBOGEN telehandler (telescopic handler).

Sponsored Content

SENNEBOGEN 340G telehandler improves the view in Macon County, NC

An elevated cab is one of several features improving operational efficiency at the Macon County Solid Waste Management agency in North Carolina. When it comes to waste management, efficiency, safety and reliability are priorities driving decisions from day one, according to staff members of the Macon County Solid Waste Management Department in western North Carolina. The agency operates a recycling plant in a facility originally designed to bale incoming materials. More recently, the building has undergone significant transformations centered around one machine: a SENNEBOGEN telehandler (telescopic handler).

“Residential Driver of the Year is an honor I never could have imagined," Martinez says. "I’m so grateful to my family, friends and co-workers for their support. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the drivers who play such an important role in our communities. I’m proud to represent this essential profession.”