Waste Management with the Turbeville Brothers
This week, we're talking trash with Tommy, Rick, and Marty Turbeville. Having grown up in the waste industry, the Turbeville brothers share their insights on how the industry has evolved and each of their journeys in the business.
About the Turbeville Brothers
Ricky, the oldest brother, joined the family business right after graduating high school. Their company specialized in residential and commercial waste management. When their father sold the business to BFI Waste Systems in 1982, Ricky went with it. During his time at BFI, the company collaborated with the FBI and other agencies to track down and prosecute members of organized crime, leading to several convictions in which Ricky played a role through the waste industry. Over the years, he worked with BFI, Republic, Waste Management, and Waste Connections, relocating 12 times across multiple states. Eventually, he became co-owner of an equity firm specializing in acquiring smaller waste companies and selling them as part of a larger portfolio. While acquiring these businesses, Ricky also managed operations alongside each location’s leadership team.
Marty, the middle brother, also entered the family business after high school, overseeing the service department until the company was sold. Following the sale, he continued working at BFI, where he was promoted after a disagreement with his manager. The manager, impressed that Marty stood up to him—something no one had done before—decided he liked Marty but preferred not to work directly with him, so he reassigned him to Cleveland, TN. There, Marty managed municipal and commercial contracts. He later left the waste industry for several years, working in logging and the sawmill business. However, after a work-related accident, he applied for and became his county’s solid waste director. In that role, he realized that state waste regulations were impractical for local governments. To address this, he co-founded the Tennessee Solid Waste Directors Association, giving counties a voice with the state EPA. Marty played a key role in securing a much-needed landfill for his county and was recognized as Tennessee’s Solid Waste Director of the Year. Since then, he has spoken publicly on the importance of waste management and education.
Tommy, the youngest brother, graduated from high school and college before returning to the family business. In reality, their company had been a part of his life since childhood—his “first day of employment” was at age 13. When their father sold the business, Tommy joined BFI, where he spent 16 years managing and growing waste operations in seven different cities. He was frequently sent to struggling locations to turn them around, leveraging his industry expertise to restore profitability. Today, he works with Route Consultant as an Industry Expert, helping to develop new products, foster industry connections, and travel for speaking engagements.
