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Company Information
Locally-owned and family-operated, Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC) is Whatcom County's largest full-service recycling and waste collection company.
As fellow neighbors, we care about our community and take pride in supporting the areas we service by participating in local events. SSC is a proud business member of Sustainable Connections and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As a 5-Star EnviroStar, Whatcom Watershed Pledge participant, Whatcom County Waste-Wise Business, 100% Green Power business and Toward Zero Waste Pioneer, we strive to reduce our waste, reuse and recycle where we can. We regularly use products made from recycled materials and continue to find ways to incorporate other recycled products into our daily operations.
We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area, but we all share in the responsibility to protect and preserve its health and beauty. At SSC, we take this responsibility seriously and are proud of our many years of service to this community. Working together, we can ensure a clean and healthy environment - today and for the future.
History
In 1929, Sanitary Service Company opened for business in Bellingham with five employees and 500 customers. Today, we employ more than 90 people and serve over 45,000 commercial and residential customers in Bellingham, Ferndale, Birch Bay and the majority of unincorporated Whatcom County.
Garbage collection circa 1930's. Gus Razore (L) and Jaquin (R) and (ret.) Fire House horses "Patrick and Max"
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Sanitary Service Company, Inc. was co-founded by Agostino "Gus" Razore. Mr. Razore was born in 1895 in Sant'Olcese, Italy, a small mountain village just outside Genoa in Northern Italy. Mr. Razore emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16, entering through Ellis Island, New York, before traveling cross country by train to Seattle. He eventually settled in Bellingham and worked for several years in the truck gardens before starting SSC.
In 1929, Mr. Razore and two other local businessmen, Josie Razore (no relation) and Mario Torre established City Sanitary Service Company, Bellingham's first garbage collection company. City Sanitary Service Company collected garbage from local residents and businesses by horse and wagon. In 1974, the company name was changed to Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC).
Gus Razore died in 1978 at the age of 83. He is well-remembered for his contributions to the community. In 1997, the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association (WRRA), the state trade association for garbage and recycling haulers, honored Mr. Razore for his contributions to the solid waste and recycling handling industry. SSC continued as a family-run business, being operated by Mr. Razore's two sons, Joe and Paul, as well as employing other Razore family members. After retiring from SSC, Joe went on to open Joe and Cora’s U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm with his wife Cora, before passing away in 2008. Paul Razore continues as company President.
 One of Gus Razore's favorite industry stories: Before trucks were available, horses were used to pull wagons to collect garbage. Often, retired "fire hall" horses were used. These horses were trained to respond to the fire bell, pulling the water wagons to fight fires. Even though they were retired from firefighting duty, every time a fire bell would ring, these horses would leave the garbage route and head straight toward the fire hall. - Joe Razore |
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Supporting Our Community
Bellingham Bay Marathon - Sponsor
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
- Industry Annual Awards Dinner - Green Award Sponsor
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington – 2012 Corporate Partner
Bike to Work & School Day - Sponsor
Depot Market Square - Major Contributor
Fun with the Fuzz - Sponsor
"It All Ends in Fairhaven" Festival - Sponsor
Jingle Bell Run - Arthritis Foundation - Sponsor
Mount Baker Hill Climb (RIDE 542) - Sponsor
New Ferndale Library Project (Whatcom Community Foundation) - Major Donor
Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center "Wild Things" Dinner & Auction - 2011 Eagle Sponsor
ReSources for Sustainable Communities
- Environmental Heroes Award Dinner - Sponsor
- Sustainable Living Center - Contributor
Ski-to-Sea - Junior Ski-to-Sea Race Sponsor
Sustainable Connections Green Building & Smart Growth - Gold Sponsor
Whatcom County Boys & Girls Club Annual Breakfast - Sponsor
WWU Cycling Team - Sponsor
Business Memberships
AGC - Associated General Contractors
AWB - Association of Washington Business
AWC - Association of Washington Cities
BWCCI - Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry
BBB - Better Business Bureau
Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce
BIAWC - Building Industry Association of Whatcom County
NAID - National Association for Information Destruction
NSWMA - National Solid Waste Management Association
NWEC - Northwest Economic Council
Sustainable Connections - Sustaining Member
WORC - Washington Organics Recycling Council
WRRA - Washington Refuse & Recycling Association
WSAC - Washington State Association of Counties
WSRA - Washington State Recycling Association
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http://www.skitosea.com/
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We also support the following...
- Alzheimer's Walk For Memory
- American Cancer Society - Relay For Life (Bellingham & Lynden)
- Association of Washington Business - Holiday Kids' Tree Project
- Baker's Breakfast Cookie Triathlons
- Behind the Badge Foundation
- Bellingham 3rd Grade Class Trips - Gordon Carter Environmental Education Site
- Bellingham Bike Event
- Bellingham Central Business District Litter Collection - Sponsor
- Bellingham Merchants Softball - Sponsor
- Bellingham School District Employee of the Year Sponsor (2008-2010)
- Bellingham Traverse
- Bite of Bellingham
- Boys and Girls Club - Sponsor
- Cascade Radio Group/ICU - Food Drive
- Discovery Days
- Dog Days of Summer - Lake Padden
- Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS)
- Downtown Sounds (Alley Concerts)
- Everson Summer Festival
- Fairhaven Middle School - Winter Wobble Food and Clothing Drive
- Fairhaven Runners & Walkers - Community Races
- Ferndale - Old Settlers Days
- Fun With The Fuzz
- Greater Bellingham Running Club (GBRC)
- Chuckanut Footrace
- Padden Mudfest
- Grizzly Bear Outreach Project
- Haggen Family Fourth of July
- Haggen to Haggen 5K Fun Run & Walk
- Hoop Jam
- Ken Meyer Criterium - Ken Meyer Memorial Foundation for Cancer Cure
- Kulshan Community Land Trust
- Madrona Street Home – 100th Home
- Livestrong - Ride To Conquer Cancer
- Lowell Elementary School - Coat Drive
- Lummi Youth Programs - Sponsor
- Lydia Place Garage Sale
- Memorial Day Celebration - Greenacres
- Middle School Challenge Run
- Mount Baker Bicycle Club
- Mount Baker Theater
- Mt. Baker Chapter American Red Cross – Real Heroes Event
- Mt. Baker Invitational
- MS Walk 2010
- Nooksack Appreciation Days
- Nooksack Tribe Mother's Day & Canoe Races
- Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
- Peace Health - Cancer Outreach Center
- Project Santa Claus
- Procession of the Species Parade
- State Capital (Olympia) Kids Christmas Tree
- The Human Race
- Tour de Whatcom
- Washington Criterium Championships
- Washington Law Enforcement Memorial
- Whatcom County Parks & Recreation Department Foundation
- Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association – Annual Food Drive
- Whatcom Crisis Services - Sponsor
- Whatcom Family YMCA - Sponsor
- Whatcom Hospice
- Whatcom Humane Society
- Whatcom Land Trust
- Whatcom Museum
- Whatcom Sustainable Recreation
- WSRA - Washington Recycles Every Day - Whatcom County Tour
- YMCA Youth & Government Program - Governor's Breakfast & Proclamation Signing Ceremony
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Brad Walton Photography
The Western Washington University (WWU) Cycling Team is a men's and women's collegiate team that competes in Division Two (DII) from the local to national levels. WWU Cycling competes in four disciplines - road, mountain, track and cyclocross. Riders of any level are welcome.
In 2009/2010, WWU Cycling ranked second in the nation in division 2 collegiate cycling based on results from four national events. Western Cycling brought home the Cyclocross National Championship in 2010, taking the top two spots on the Men's podium and the 3rd spot on the Women's. This makes the second year in a row that WWU has been home to a collegiate national champion racer.
WWU Cycling typically sponsors two events per year - the North Shore Circuit Race (March) and the WWU Triathlon (May). The team volunteers in the local community too, helping build trails on Galbraith Mountain with WHIMPS, volunteering at the Chuckanut Century ride and planting trees with NSEA. They also participate in the Adopt-a-Road Program and have adopted a portion of the Y Road used in the North Shore Circuit Race. For more information, visit www.wwucycling.com.
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Running on Biodiesel Fuel
Since 2005, SSC's garbage and recycling trucks have been running on biodiesel fuel. "We tested biodiesel in a number of our trucks for 18 months with no maintenance issues or loss in performance," said SSC Co-Owner Paul Razore. "We made the switch in mid-2005 and have never looked back." SSC trucks fuel up at one of two Yorkston Oil Yorky's locations that offer biodiesel - State Street and West Bakerview stations. The SSC fleet uses 300,000 gallons of fuel per year to collect garbage and recyclables from residents and businesses in Whatcom County. Biodiesel costs a bit more than regular diesel, but it is biodegradable, non-toxic and virtually free of sulfur and aromatics. Plus it reduces emissions by up to 20%. "We hope our actions will encourage other local fleets to consider biodiesel as their fuel choice."
Biodiesel itself contains no petroleum, but can be blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel mix. Biodiesel is a mix of diesel and a certain percentage (5%, 20%, etc.) of B-100 Biodiesel fuel, usually rapeseed oil, soy oil or reclaimed vegetable oil.
For information about biodiesel contact Matt Yorkston at Yorkston Oil (360) 734-2201.
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EnviroStars
SSC achieved a 5-star rank from the Whatcom County EnviroStars program in 2007. SSC earned 5 EnviroStars, the highest rating possible, for our leadership activities in reduction of both hazardous and non-hazardous solid wastes, and for our sustainable business practices. SSC is the first garbage and recycling collection company in Washington to be included in the EnviroStars program.
SSC places a strong emphasis on fleet maintenance and driver training to reduce spills, leaks and emissions from company vehicles. "SSC has pioneered the commercial use of bio-diesel in Whatcom County fleets, a move which has resulted in decreased diesel emissions from their fleet of 60 vehicles and greater availability of biodiesel fuel in the local area," said Penni Lemperes, Whatcom County Solid Waste Coordinator. Lemperes also highlighted the use of an oil filter crusher which allows SSC to recycle over 500 oil filters each year as scrap metal, and remove and recycle over 300 gallons of additional waste oil per year from the spent filters.
As a part of the certification process, SSC completed a comprehensive review of all toxic shop products in use and was able to switch 12 products to less hazardous or non-toxic alternatives. According to SSC Recycling Manager Rodd Pemble, the company evaluates all waste materials generated by the company and their customers for recyclability. "Based on that on-going evaluation, we have been able to develop new recycling programs for plastics, wood and compostables," said Pemble.
For questions or more info visit our FAQ section or contact SSC Recycling Manager, Rodd Pemble.
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"5 Star Rating" |
Toward Zero Waste Pioneer
SSC is a Toward Zero Waste Pioneer in Sustainable Connection's Toward Zero Waste Campaign. We practice waste reduction and reuse and are recycling more than 80% of our business waste. For more information about the Toward Zero Waste Campaign, visit www.sconnect.org.
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100% Green Power Leadership Partner - PSE
Sanitary Service Company is "greening" 100% of its electricity usage through PSE's Green Power program. Our switch in early 2007 made us the largest private business in Whatcom County to use 100% Green Power.
PSE's Green Power Program, ranked as one of the top 10 Green Power programs in the U.S, provides SSC with just over 200,000 kilowatt hours annually of domestically-produced, alternative energy. The city of Bellingham was also recently recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the first Green Power Community in Washington - one of only seven in the nation. Green Power is electricity generated from renewable, non-polluting resources such as wind or solar power.
For questions or more info visit our FAQ section or contact SSC Recycling Manager, Rodd Pemble.
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