Fruth Sanitation Hands Over Reins For Routes

by Tess Wolfe
June 25, 2008
Article courtesy of Stow Sentry

Jackie, left, and Marcus Fruth, right, opened family-owned Fruth Sanitation Inc. 26 years ago, “with one truck and one customer,” said Marcus. Waste Management of Ohio recently acquired the waste collection routes of Fruth Sanitation, although the Fruth sons will continue to operate the company’s roll-off and recycling services at its McCauley Road facility in Stow.

A national waste collection company has acquired some of the residential and business services of Stow-based Fruth Sanitation Inc.

As of June 2, Waste Management of Ohio, part of the larger, Houston-based Waste Management Inc., has taken over Fruth Sanitation's curbside recycling and waste service routes. Fruth Sanitation will continue to maintain some of its services, such as its roll-off containers at the McCauley Road facility.

"We really want to stress how the community has been very, very supportive of us, being a family company," said Jackie Fruth, who co-owns the 26-year old company with her husband, Marcus. "We truly, truly appreciate that."

Waste Management has acquired approximately 4,500 customers from Fruth Sanitation, according to Waste Management of Ohio spokesperson Beth Schmucker.

The transition has taken place without disrupting service to customers, said representatives of both companies.

"It just made sense as a way to bring costs down, the way the price of gas is," said Marcus. "Diesel fuel is $4.80 per gallon -- and [our service trucks] average 3.1 miles to the gallon."

A family-owned business since Marcus and Jackie purchased it with one garbage truck in 1982, Fruth Sanitation has served "more than half the homes in Munroe Falls, close to half the homes and about 30 percent of the commercial accounts in Cuyahoga Falls," Marcus said.

"We would have had to raise the rates" to Fruth customers, Jackie said. "When we started to have to borrow to pay a gas bill, Marcus went to Waste Management. They are a big company and know what they're doing. We had to make a decision very quickly."

Fruth Sanitation sent a letter to its customers June 6 explaining the change, stating the Fruth recycling center will remain in operation at the McCauley Road site, now under the operation of the Fruths' sons, Cameron and Craig.

"People can still bring in their yellow bags there," said Schmucker.

The color of the service trucks and containers are now the green and yellow of Waste Management, and the invoice appearance on customers' bills will change. All invoices for services received from Fruth Sanitation should be submitted to Fruth Sanitation, while invoices billed for services received from Waste Management should be submitted to Waste Management, the letter stated.

To address rising gas prices, Waste Management has a fuel surcharge in place. However, no change in the price of services to customers has taken place at this point, Schmucker said.

"Prices will hold steady for right now," she said

Some customers may have a change in the day of week waste collection services are delivered, she added.

"Any changes that occur will be communicated to customers ahead of time," said Schmucker.

Waste Management has facilities across Ohio, with waste facilities in Cleveland, Wooster and Youngstown, recycling facilities in Cleveland and Oakland, and landfills in Youngstown and Stark County, Schmucker said.

Cameron Fruth, the eldest son, said he and his brother, Craig Fruth, will take over the roll-off service that provides 10-, 15- ,20-, 30- and 40-yard-long containers to businesses and residents requiring larger waste containers than residents using the curbside service. Although many of Fruth Sanitation's drivers will now be working for Waste Management of Ohio, Cameron said all its roll-off drivers will remain with Fruth Sanitation.

"We're not leaving," said Cameron. "We're going to be here."

For information regarding Fruth Sanitation Inc. services, or rolloff service call 330-686-8000.

For information regarding Waste Management of Ohio, call 800-343-6047 or e-mail CSOHIO@WM.com.