Gallegos Sanitation

We are a local, trusted and innovative business that has been servicing Northern Colorado for nearly 50 years. Since 1959, we have focused on providing economical, quality waste and recycling collection services.Whether you need disposal service for your home, business, construction project or special event, we can tailor the service to fit your needs.We strive to meet the changing needs of our customers by looking forward in our industry and technology. We are constantly searching for the best tools to ensure our employees can serve our customers’ needs most efficiently. For this reason, customers find a high level of reliability and variety of services from which to choose.

We are concerned with current environmental issues and believe in doing our part for the community. We are constantly seeking ways to reduce emissions through improved routing and the use of bio-diesel fuel (coming soon). We offer experimental services such as curbside yardwaste collection, construction and demolition recycling, and electronic waste disposal alternatives.While our company continues to grow, our customers find that we do not lack the resources to serve their changing needs, nor are we so large they get lost in the shuffle. For three generations, customer service has come first! We have not forgotten what is most important and endeavor to continue our search for excellence through customer satisfaction.From a humble beginning, our business has grown to serve a very large part of Northern Colorado with a primary service area spanning across the Tri-City area, from north of the Wyoming state line all the way south through Berthoud to the Boulder County line, including the areas listed to the right and more!We are willing to use our company resources to give back to our community and are happy to support area small businesses, Northern Colorado school districts, and local non-profit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County, the American Cancer Society, and many more..

Our Story

Edward Gallegos was born in San Luis, CO in 1925 as a 4th generation descendant of Spanish settlers. At a very young age, he worked side by side with his parents and siblings making adobes, providing them with just enough to survive. This experience taught him that hard work was the only means to succeed for his family. From his service in the Army, to his years working for Larimer County, he continued to push past a 5th grade education and learn whatever he could. It wasn’t long before he could operate almost every piece of heavy equipment available to him.

His desire to improve his position in life and strong work ethic carried him past discrimination and became reflected in the training of his sons. In 1959, together Edward, Art, Jerry, and Rudy began to shape a part-time lawn-mowing and hauling business into the 70-truck fleet of waste and recycling trucks serving Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming in our trash removal business today.

Philosophy of Service
We started our business at a time when business owners wanted customers to feel good about doing business with them. A time when full service gas stations were on every corner, and everyone’s motto was “service with a smile.” Businesses took pride in the service they provided to their customers, and Edward was no different. His perfectionist attitude became a strong root in our approach to business then and is still the largest part of our approach to how we service customers today.We recognize that customers are the reason our company is here today, and we are committed to customer service excellence and continuous service improvement.

Industry trend setters
In 1961, Gallegos changed the way waste was collected in the area forever when they introduced the first automated garbage collection truck to the streets of Fort Collins. In 1967, Ed applied some of his mechanical skills and designed his own cardboard baling mechanism that included many of the design features we still see in modern day baling systems. Today, Gallegos continues to lead in applying innovative technologies. From GPS and onboard computer systems to new engine and fuel technologies that reduce carbon emissions, GSI is staying ahead of the competition by providing the most up-to-date tools to their employees servicing the community. As a new era in environmental urgency and technology evolves, you can bet we will be there.

Environmental issues
We are already taking steps to move recycling and our environmental responsibility forward. For almost a decade, Gallegos has provided area residents with both curbside recycling of standard materials like plastic, glass, metal, and newsprint, but also green-waste collection. We are constantly seeking route improvements and experimenting with alternative fuels that will greatly reduce our carbon footprint. Our shop facilities recycle and reuse vehicle lubricants and use alternative heating technologies and we will soon be converting to wind power for all electrical needs.

Commitment to the Community
Over the decades, this community has grown by leaps and bounds, and three generations of the Gallegos family have been there. We are not only serving the community, we are a part of it. Our children and now our children’s children are attending the same schools, athletic events, charity events and more. GSI has been proud to be able to support many local non-profit organizations and fund-raising events, including Relay-for-Life, the MS Walk, Colorado State University, Poudre School District, Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County, and many more. We are here to support our community!

Thank You
Today the Gallegos Family still serves many of the same customers or children of those customers as they did in 1959. Over the decades, we have picked up many more customers, large and small, from the local ice cream parlor to national retail chains. Fort Collins, without the half century of support you have given us, we wouldn’t be here today! We want to genuinely thank each and every one of you, new customer or old, for your support in allowing us to serve you. We also appreciate our employees for dedication and hard work that make providing a quality service possible.

If Edward Gallegos were alive today, we are more than confident that he would not only be proud of his family for what they have been able to accomplish, but also proud of his community for believing in them. We genuinely hope to continue to serve Fort Collins area for many generations of the Gallegos Family to come. With all humility, please let us once again thank you all for choosing GSI to serve you!

Our Mission

To be the most innovative, trusted, and comprehensive Waste Diversion Company in Northern Colorado. We want our customers to receive exceptional service that supports moral and ethical practices…

For our NEW Residential Customers

• Mailed to every new customer – Residential new start letter-brief information about GSI, holiday guide calendar, recycling guide and most current copy of the GSI Newsletter
• Courtesy call back to verify satisfaction of service
• Customers requesting GSI equipment have a delivery order passed onto the delivery department, delivery is made and subsequent delivery ticket is returned to dispatch to confirm transaction has been completed
• Thorough auditing program to verify all new starts are in the new accounts database, service ticket of GSI equipment (if requested) and routing procedure have been completed

Examples from the GSI team going Above & Beyond after hours:

• Employees take customer requests, explain our programs when asked, next day follow through with proper procedures to assure job completion
• See lids open on dumpsters when out and about, we close them
• PT blown over, we call it in so it can be serviced immediately
• Call in when we see dumpsters overflowing
• If we witness and/or observe misuse (theft of service) and/or graffiti on our equipment, we contact the proper authorities.
• Good Samaritan values – if we see your trash cart tipped over or an issue with service, we set it back up and talk to you so we can better serve “our neighbor”
• Account Specialists with communication skills and a clear customer focus that will allow them to be reassuring, empathic and responsive.
• All new Customer Service Account Specialists go through a thorough training program that takes approximately 90 days to complete, which even includes ride-a-longs with our Operations Staff.

RECYCLING SERVICES

Recycling remains one of the easiest ways we can preserve natural resources available. With just a little effort in every area of life, the impacts can be almost unbelievable. Our recycling service subscribers have the opportunity to add to the wellness of their community by recycling most types of waste in a simple, economical way. We offer a wide variety of services tailored to our customers’ specific needs.Whether you need services for your home, business, special event, or construction project, we can serve you. We have a wide variety of container sizes to choose from to meet your specific needs.

ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING

It’s not about trash anymore. It’s not about out-of-sight-out-of-mind either. It’s about stewardship, responsibility, and finding solutions to the mounting piles of waste in our society.If you didn’t already know, there’s an issue that is starting to pile up in our local, national, and global landfills. It’s called E-waste, short for electronics waste, and this material is now considered a hazardous waste product that should be properly handled and disposed of. In other words – it can’t (or shouldn’t) be thrown in the trash bin or landfill.

What can a person do with their obsolete electronic materials
Gallegos Sanitation, Inc. has chosen to take the pathway of “E-stewardship” and partner with Metech Recycling of Denver to pick-up, handle and transfer your E-waste in the most secure and responsible way. Currently, GSI collects E-waste from residential and commercial customers. Materials are transferred to Metech where each piece of material is locally disassembled and sorted into base materials (glass, plastics, metals), then transported to processors and manufacturers to be made into new products. Metech is endorsed by the Basel Action Network (BAN) as a qualified E-Steward electronics recycler.

Gallegos Sanitation, Inc. offers varied options for E-waste collection:

• The GSI E-waste Drop-off Site is at GSI’s main facility, which is located at 1941 Heath Parkway, Fort Collins, CO. Customers will be able to conveniently pay a fee and drop-off their E-waste at this site. (see map)
• Community E-waste Collection Events: On predetermined dates and locations GSI will host varied events for HOAs, neighborhoods, and community gatherings where citizens can bring their obsolete electronics for drop-off. GSI will have their E-waste collection equipment ready to handle all materials, and may assess fees*. Please visit our website or Facebook to check out the dates and locations for these special E-waste collection events (events to be posted after February 1, 2011).
• *The E-waste Collection Events drop-off fees will vary since some events will be hosted by HOA organizations or pertain to community fund-raising efforts.
• Residential & Commercial Pick-up: Call the Gallegos Sanitation, Inc. office to arrange for pick-up service at your home or business. Prices will vary for this service based upon current fuel prices, pick-up location, quantity of the E-waste, and day of the week.
• Assurance of Data Security: If requested, the customer can also receive a “Certificate of Destruction” (COD) and “Chain of Custody Documentation” (COCD) once their E-waste has been received at Metech. Your data deserves protection from identity theft. At Metech Recycling, data storage materials are secured, disassembled and completely shredded. The COD & COCD’s are provided upon request.

BUSINESS SERVICES

We provide commercial trash removal to all business types along the Front Range, servicing over 7,000 commercial customers. From small to large industrial disposal needs, we have the right trash removal service and the container to fit your needs!We service every type of business in Northern Colorado, from multi-family complexes to restaurants and retails. At your request, we will complete an audit of your waste stream and help you identify the best solution to fit your needs. Whether it’s trash or recycling we have a variety of container types and sizes from which to choose.

YARDWASTE RECYCLING

Did you know that organic waste makes up approximately 29% of the local waste stream going into the landfill? GSI remains the only local company to recognize the difference we can make to support local and statewide recycling efforts by providing a service that really makes it simple to recycle yardwaste. Check out what we have to offer.

There are many reasons for participating in this program. First, it is good for the environment. When biodegradable materials are buried in the landfill they create methane gas as they break down. This gas gets trapped in the ground, slowly seeps out or must be piped out and burned off into the atmosphere.Secondly, yardwaste materials are taken to a local compost facility where they are converted into viable compost. Compost is a valuable additive that improves soil quality. Other things such as mulch are also created from branches and other wood debris and made available for yard landscaping.

Did you know that Colorado has one of the LOWEST recycling rates in the USA? Your participation in this program will help reduce Colorado’s total waste stream and reach waste reduction goals. The State Legislature is considering passing legislation that could result in a statewide ban on yard waste entering landfills. If your lawn trimmings alone amount to just one 30-gallon bag per week, on average you could increase your annual household recycle rate by 25 percent!

How about personal benefits? Our program should save on disposal costs since the fee for the equivalent volume of trash is twice as high. Many current yard waste service customers used to compost. They find our program advantageous because it takes up less time, they don’t have to tend to a compost bin, they can include branches and shrubs, and it eliminates the odor associated with compost piles.

CURBSIDE RECYCLING

Statistics show that by maximizing your recycling efforts, you should be able to recycle close to half your household waste! To help you achieve such a goal, we offer unlimited curbside recycling in most areas with regular household trash collection services. As part of this service, GSI will provide each household with one (or more) 65-gallon or 95-gallon cart(s) for recycling. Your recycle cart can be identified by the bright, royal blue lid.Recycle service is provided on an every-other-week (EOW) basis. Your pickup schedule will be either indicated as BLUE WEEK RECYCLE or GOLD WEEK RECYCLE type. You can identify your service week by checking the message section of your statement (below the perforation) then referring to our Recycling Calendar.
Cart vs. Tub

To help encourage limiting waste going directly into the landfill we now offer recycle carts in 65-gallon or 95-gallon. These are very appealing to our customers because not only do they have way more room then the previous 18-gallon tubs but they also have wheels and closed lids. Order your FREE container NOW!This service is included in your trash rate if you live within the city limits of Fort Collins or Loveland. We also offer this service for a low monthly fee to the areas surrounding these cities including Wellington, Laporte, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, and Berthoud. Call us for availability of this service for other areas and pricing.