Rita runs a commercial recycling company she inherited from her father, operating a one-container program she started in Charlotte in 1993 that consolidates waste and recyclables into a single dumpster. She drives forklifts and Bobcats herself, earned the nickname "Trashé" for combining trash and fashion, and credits NAWBO for providing support and community as a woman business owner.
I have a recycling business. We will reach out to commercial businesses, not individuals. I'm able to come out and offer you a one-container recycling program where you only have one can instead of 2 sitting in your garbage stall. It's something I didn't know that I wanted to do, but apparently it's always been in my genes.
This is a picture of my father's plant. He originally started the business when I was a very small little girl.
We stand next It goes to a conveyor belt and there are what I call chutes where they're ripping it open and they're removing the recyclable products at that time, which will go down to anything that tears, your mouse off your computer, your cables from your computer, your laptops, your keyboards. I just love what I do, the interaction with people, doing the odd things that I get to do as an employee. You know, drive the forklifts, the Bobcats, the trucks. In 1993, I decided to expand my business into an area that had never been approached in Charlotte. We went to a one-container dumpster, which allows the business parks to mix their waste with their recyclables.
I have a degree in fashion.
Combine trash and fashion, and a friend of mine calls me Trashé now. I'm a hands-on person. I have to get my hands dirty. As long as you put your mind and your heart into it and take care of your employees and customers, you'll be fantastic.
Hey, Mom, will you hand me that glove hook, please? Sure. Thank you.
Carrying on my father's legacy and being able to pass it down to my children. The one thing about NABO that stands out to me is we're women. We know what it takes to run a business. They actually give me some more outlook on what I could do in my industry and You know, just having fun. It's a great organization for women.
