Teamwork shines for Dinner at the Dump

At Auburn Placer Disposal Service's transfer station in Auburn, employees are scrubbing and shining trucks, floors and workspace this week in preparation for Thursday's Dinner at the Dump.The yearly Auburn Chamber of Commerce mixer attracts hundreds of people for a menu of barbecue prepared by Auburn Placer Disposal Service employees.The team effort typifies the spirit and working atmosphere at the company, public relations representative Sue Dossa said Monday. Hirees become fully vested in the employee-owned company after five years. The emphasis on inclusion and teamwork has resulted in a cohesive workforce. There's a very small turnover and job vacancies are rare, Dossa said."People work harder and care more about their company," she said. "It's very common for people to spend a whole career with (the company."Auburn Placer Disposal Service has 78 employees and operates 66 trucks. It provides service to Auburn, Rocklin, Loomis and in incorporated areas of Placer County, processing more than 100,000 tons of garbage and recyclable material yearly, according to the Web site www.sunsetscavenger.com. It is part of the Bay Area-based Norcal Waste Systems, Inc., which includes nearly three dozen waste disposal companies criss-crossing Northern California.Susan Hoop of Rocklin, who joined the company 20 years ago as a customer service representative, was attracted originally because of the great employee benefits. But she said she quickly came to appreciate the family atmosphere and opportunity for company involvement.As a member of the Communications Committee, she meets with members of the other companies within Norcal to formulate motivational and team-building competitions and campaigns. "We've won lots of awards through Norcal," she said. Among those awards was one for best video in 2000, which also went on to receive a national Employee Stock Ownership Plan award. The video's star is a talking 32-gallon trashcan named ESOP. Recently, a second talking trash can has been added for presentations - her name is Share.Hoop said she appreciates working with general manager John Rowe. And she enjoys her day-to-day interaction with customers."The customers I've met on the phone, many have become friends and they're part of our (corporate) family," she said.Auburn Placer Disposal's work extends beyond trash collection, with recycling an important aspect. Part of the job is to keep the communities within the mandated diversion percentage required by state Assembly Bill 939 - recycling materials to reduce landfill use. To accomplish this, the company works closely with the Placer County's Materials Recovery Facility in Lincoln, Dossa said.After trash is picked up, it goes to the disposal service's Shale Ridge Road transfer station for compacting. Then it is trucked to the Fiddyment Road materials recovery facility for sorting and extracting recyclable items.In addition to commercial and residential trash pickup, the company has numerous drop-off sites for cardboard and newspaper throughout the service area. This year marks at least the 12th time Auburn Placer Disposal has treated chamber members to the "Dinner at the Dump.""Each year it gets bigger," Dossa said. In fact, attendance has grown from 300 to about 700. This year's music and entertainment will be provided by Petting Zoo, a Bay Area group that performs using recycled items. When they're not performing, KAHI's Dave Rosenthal will provide recorded music. The Auburn chamber is in charge of the no-host bar.The menu will include barbecued tri-tip and chicken, salads and pasta. Rolls are from Hilda's Pastries.More than 30 employees are involved in putting on the dinner, including cooking and cleanup. It's a lot of work, all volunteer, with preparations taking about two weeks. But all that effort is recognized and appreciated by those who attend."People are asking me all year long 'when is dinner at the dump?'" Dossa said. "I believe it is the chamber's largest mixer of the year."Dinner at the Dump will be Thursday at the Auburn Placer Disposal Service transfer station, 12305 Shale Ridge Road. It will begin with no-host cocktails at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.For more information and reservations, call 889-3703.The Journal's Gloria Young can be reached at gloriay@ goldcountrymedia.com.