By Daniel Chesser Staff Writer One of Opelika’s native sons is utilizing his entrepreneurial spirit to take out the trash in Lee County. Literally. Willie Philpot Jr., 23 and a 2009 Opelika High graduate, has always been into recycling and recognized a need for garbage disposal in the rural parts of Lee County. “I want to provide Beauregard and pretty much the entire rural Lee County area with a great garbage and recycling pickup service,” Philpot said. “This service (1-800-Disposal) had not been offered before, so I did my research, obtained my permits and was approved by the county commission (in late December 2013).” Lee County residents who do not live within the city-limits of Opelika and Auburn do not have the opportunity to take advantage of weekly garbage pickup offered by the municipalities and must dispose of trash and recyclable goods at landfills and depots scattered throughout the county. Philpot is offering local residents a weekly garbage pickup and recycling service for a monthly fee of $16 through his business, 1-800-Disposal, and there is nothing he will not haul off except hazardous materials. Bulky items like couches, stoves and refrigerators are charged separately and picked up on different days than Monday. “The only thing I do not do is provide the bags for the garbage,” Philpot said. “We pick up every Monday, and the client must have their trash out to the road before 6 a.m., and it must be in bags (no loose trash).” Philpot said he would like to expand his services to run Monday through Saturday, but he works alone at the moment with the help of his Chevy Z71 pickup and a 7’ x 16’ enclosed trailer (both approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health). “I want rural Lee County to depend on 1-800-Disposal just like city residents depend on city garbage pickup services,” Philpot said. “I want to have multiple garbage trucks and provide jobs to people in this area.” So far he has impressed county officials in the early stages of his venture. “(Philpot) jumped through the virtual hoops and did the right thing to start his business,” said Chris Bozeman, Lee County Environmental Services Director. “If he wants to do anything in the county, he calls to make sure it is OK first, he follows the rules and seems to be a good guy with strong mind out there trying to make a living.” With the tagline “Let today’s disposal be tomorrow’s comfort,” Philpot is willing to accommodate anyone with his service, especially senior citizens, the disabled, churches, daycares and apartment complexes, but he also wants to improve the environment for the future while he is at it. “I want to keep our environment clean, and I think ‘going green’ is the way of the future,” Philpot said. “We want people to know we are here, and there is no need for them to have to let trash build up or have to take it to the dump themselves anymore because we can do that for them.” If interested in this service visit www.1-800-Disposal.com to fill out and submit a registration form or call 1-800-344-5880 (toll free) or 334-363-7190 Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or questions email info@1-800-Disposal.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
