Resource Center
When Bilodeau Property Management Ran into a Driver Dilemma, Republic Services Developed a Clever Plan
Republic Services stepped up in a big way when Bilodeau Property Management faced a backlog of pickups. Find out how a temporary fix became a long-term solution.Byline: BTB Editor
August 20, 2024 / Time to read: 5 minWhen COVID hit and the world shuttered, people didn’t stop filling their recycling and trash cans. But when a driver shortage with its other vendors led to fewer pickups — and an excess of overflowing bins — Bilodeau Property Management in Providence, RI enlisted Republic Services for help.
What was meant to serve as a temporary fix turned into a clever, long-term solution.
The Challenge: A Trash Pileup
Bilodeau Property Management does just that — manage properties. According to Harrison “Harry” Bilodeau, the company’s president and founder, his team coordinates and integrates every aspect of property ownership to enhance value. One of those aspects? Recycling and trash pickup.
At the start of the pandemic, Bilodeau Property Management faced a major problem: heaps and heaps of trash. “The state came here and told us we had to close, and we said, ‘No, we’re an essential business,’” Bilodeau says. “We had trash that was not being collected because nobody could get drivers.”
Michael Thacker, Bilodeau Property Management’s Republic Services account manager, says Bilodeau came up against not only driver shortages, but companies who had to close their doors, too. (Bilodeau works with several recycling and waste companies to help manage a city-wide portfolio. Republic Services manages approximately 35 of Bilodeau’s properties.)
“His trash wasn’t being collected at many properties throughout the city, and many of his properties became an eyesore due to uncollected trash and recycling,” Thacker says.
The Solution: Crushing it
When Bilodeau called Thacker to brainstorm solutions, Thacker suggested a centrally located, easy-to-access
“This relieved him of the possibility of being cited or fined by the city of Providence for uncollected trash or recycling,” Thacker says.
The Benefits of Using a Compactor
Industrial compactors compress waste to reduce its size and volume by about two-thirds. Beyond the cost savings and environmental benefits of fewer pickups, compactors can help on the odor-control front since they’re enclosed.
There are several types of compactors to choose from. The best fit comes down to capacity, type of waste and space.
The Outcome: Clean Properties & a Happy Customer
With the addition of Republic Services’ compactor, Bilodeau Property Management has avoided fines for uncollected waste. “This solution eliminated the uncollected trash problem, keeping Bilodeau’s properties clean and visually pleasing,” Thacker says.
The compactor is still on site and in use. According to Thacker, it will remain part of the Bilodeau portfolio permanently.
And what does Bilodeau have to say about it? For starters, he says he’s a happy customer. “Communicating with the Republic Services staff is amazingly easy,” he adds. “You send a text ‘we need an extra pickup, we need this, we need that.’ When I call or email, I get results.”
What's Next
Bilodeau Properties has been a loyal customer for almost 18 years, with Thacker at the helm of the account for the last decade.
“Let’s face it, nobody cares about trash until it’s not picked up,” Thacker says. “Harry knows he can rely on us to be on time — service as contracted — keeping his properties clean.”
Bilodeau says Republic Services isn’t “just a trash company” to him. “Republic is a crucial part of coordinating this densely urban managed area,” he says. “That’s really been remarkable.”
