Dear Associate,
Happy Thursday!
In this issue, you can find out about the new associates we welcomed from Les's and see some fun photos from the Christmas Celebration. You can also read about all the parades we've been in recently and find out some exciting landfill news.
Thanks for reading, stay safe out there and make today a great Granger day!
Andrea Davis
Communications Manager
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Welcome, Les's Sanitary Service! |
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On November 30, we held the signing to officially purchase Les's Sanitary Service from the Sweeney family. The following day, we began servicing their customers and were happy to welcome the following Les's employees to the Granger family. |
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Customer Service Representative (Lansing)
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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Customer Service Representative (Lansing)
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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Christmas Celebration Recap |
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This year, we returned to our traditional Granger Celebration at the Kellogg Center after a hiatus of a few years. We enjoyed a delicious meal, festive decorations and crafts for the kids. Kids and adults alike had fun decorating cookies and posing for silly photos in the open photo booth. But the star of event, as usual, was that jolly old elf Santa Claus, who once again brought joy to the hearts of many.
Here are some fun photos from the event. It was hard to choose since there were so many great photos! You can see them all yourself (as well as download and print them), by clicking here or scanning the QR code. |
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Reminder: New Benefits and Pay Rate |
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The year 2023 is just around the corner, so we wanted to remind you about when the new benefits enrollment and pay rates take place.
The January 5 paycheck will include deductions for your 2023 benefits enrollment.
Your 2023 pay increase goes into effect on January 1, 2023, so your first paycheck using these rates will be the January 19 paycheck.
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Southern Expansion Finished! |
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Last month, we finished up on our Southern Expansion landfill on the former compost site of Granger’s main campus. As a reminder, this construction includes three cells approved to accept Type III materials. Specifically, the material intended for disposal will be from large remediation sites with contaminated soils from industrial processes or old fly ash impoundments/fill areas. Using a separate disposal site for this material is expected to lead to better utilization of landfill space and better management of the leachate and gas collection systems.
The timeline for the project, which totals 7.6 acres (6.1 acres of new landfill and 1.5 acres of existing landfill constructed over) is as follows:
May 2021 - August 2022: Excavation by Granger
August 31: First day of liner installation by Hallaton (contracted company)
October 1: Last day of liner installation
October 3: First day of sand placement by Catskill (contracted company)
November 23: Last day of sand placement
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Interesting Project Stats
- 22,000 tons of sand and stone were used
- 8.2 acres of liner were used (due to slopes and 3d dimensions)
- 3,000 ft. (more than half a mile) of drainage pipe
- Approximately 250,000 cubic yards of airspace were gained, with about 60,000 cubic yards of that being gained from the vertical space we went up on the existing landfill.
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You may wonder what happens next. Granger and our consultants from Golder will be sending technical information to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to certify the cell. Certification takes around 60 days. Once the cell is certified, we can start placing waste in it. We anticipate being able to use the cell in spring of 2023.
This cell will receive “industrial waste” only. Wastes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis and will have to fit the legal definition of an industrial waste. Generally, wastes that can fit this definition are wastes such as flyash, generated by an industrial process, or contaminated soils from an industrial site.
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We have been in so many parades since the last issue of the Gazette! Here's a rundown.
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We headed to Charlotte on November 26. Thanks, Brian Sowle, for being our driver! Brian's wife also kindly stepped in at the last minute to play Curby. |
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We participated in the Marshall parade on November 28. Thanks to Ron Knox for driving and Willie Niswonger for playing Curby!
We made the rounds in our Alma region with three parades in a row! For several of the parades, our Sales Representative Michelle Pitts walked in front of the truck with a Granger banner, and Professional Driver Tom Pascale played his festively decorated tuba! How awesome!
On November 30, we took part in the Shepherd parade. Thanks to Dennis Craddock, who was our driver.
On December 1, we made an appearance in the St. Louis Christmas parade. Thanks to Cody Laity for driving.
We hit the Ithaca parade on December 2 thanks to our driver Dennis Craddock.
The Grand Ledge Christmas parade was also on December 2. Dennis Reed was our driver and Spencer Hanneman spread Christmas cheer as Captain Curby. |
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We also participated in the St. Johns parade on December 2. Thanks to our driver, Todd Neller!
On December 3, we headed west to Cedar Springs, where Jeff Senneker drove in the parade. Thanks, Jeff!
Also on December 3, we participated in the Fowlerville parade. Many thanks to Dustin Alchin for driving the truck!
Our first appearance in the Hastings parade also took place on December 3. We'd like to thank Craig Ross for being our driver. |
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Unfortunately, we don't have photos or video from all the parades. If you have parade photos you haven't sent us, please email them to adavis@grangernet.com.
Our last two parades are yet to come! Come on out on December 9 to the Alma parade! We're also still looking for a Curby and riders for the Portland parade on December 10.
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Grand River Avenue Landfill Open for Business |
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At 6:18 a.m. on November 28, the first Granger truck arrived at Grand River Avenue Landfill to dump. |
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As many of you may remember, at the end of 2013 we stopped dumping at Grand River on an ongoing basis in an effort to provide better service to our customers and assist with maintaining reasonable disposal costs. Until then, we accepted waste from Granger trucks and outside haulers, as well as self-haul customers. In December of 2013, we opened Granger Disposal Center of Lansing to provide a safer and more convenient way for our self-haul customers to dispose of waste.
The Disposal Center has worked well for our customers, as has dumping at Wood Street Landfill for our trucks and other haulers. However, as Wood Street Landfill has become busier, we recognized an opportunity to move some of that traffic to Grand River again. Currently, Grand River is open only for use by our trucks. Our Lansing service territory is sending all trucks on western routes to Grand River and the transfer truck from Alma is dumping there as well.
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Giving Tree Deadline Approaching |
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There's still time to participate in the Giving Tree and help someone less fortunate. Stop by the Main Office Great Room to grab your ornament, and be sure to purchase your gift and return it to the office by Wednesday, December 14. |
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Stay Safe in Cold Weather |
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Being out in cold weather brings the danger of frostbite and hypothermia. Being prepared and watching for the signs of these conditions, as well as knowing what to do for them, can go a long way toward keeping you safe.
Frostbite signs are bright red skin becoming waxy, gray or white, and numb. It often affects fingers, toes, ears and face.
Hypothermia signs are shivering, drowsiness, confusion, fumbling and slurred speech.
So what do you do if you encounter these signs? Click on the image to view a document from the National Safety Council detailing the DOs and DON'Ts for frostbite and hypothermia.
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A Message from the Chaplain |
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Free Webinar on Family Dynamics |
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HelpNet is offering a webinar for members on navigating family dynamics during the holidays. Although the holiday season can be joyful, it can be a difficult time. The webinar will help you learn ways to establish important boundaries and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
The webinar is free to Granger associates and their families. It will be broadcast on December 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. However, if you register and miss the live webinar, you will be able to access the recording after 72 hours. Click on the image to view the flyer and see registration instructions.
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I am a disabled veteran and my driver said he will go up and get my trash from now on instead of making me bring it out. Thank you.
Today I was late getting our trash can out to the road. I was reminded by the sound of the Granger truck passing our driveway and stopping at the neighbor's house. Knowing the truck passes back by our house, I left our can at the end of the driveway. This was totally my fault and I fully expected to retrieve my can still full a few hours later, but your crew had other plans. They emptied it, despite having already emptied the other cans on our side of the road. They didn’t have to do that, but we sure appreciated it. Please thank the crew that does our pickup as we truly appreciate them.
Your drivers are great! This morning, I heard my trash cart tip over (because of the high wind) and start rolling down the street. Just then, I saw your driver who was coming to the house grab the cart, pull out my tagged bag and roll the cart up to the garage. Also, my recycling truck’s driver was kind enough to help me with a couple of very large and heavy boxes that I was lugging out to the curb. Thank you to both drivers and to Granger for having drivers who care!
Your driver dropped off our cart today and spoke with my wife. She said he was very nice. It’s always good to have good people representing your company. Thank you!
Wednesday was a very windy day and I’m sure the service teams had their hands full. I had to stand my cart back up three times and noticed it had been knocked back down a fourth time when I went to pick my son up from school. This time it had been blown down the shoulder about 15 feet into a creek. I planned on retrieving it when I got back, but was surprised to find that the Granger crew had already been through and fished the cart out of the water and emptied it. I was shocked by that level of service! Many thanks.
I have dealt with other providers and have had so many problems with them. I wanted to make sure you know I love Granger and really appreciate your company and everything that you do! Go Granger!
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Refer Qualified Associates and Earn Bonus |
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You can earn up to $1,000 for each qualified candidate you refer who is hired. As a reminder, you will receive $250 after the new associate is here 90 days and $250 for each of three additional 90-day periods, as long as the associate you referred stays at Granger.
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Inspirational Thoughts from Ron Granger |
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Happy Birthday to these associates whose birthdays fall between now and the next issue of the Gazette. |
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Mechanic
(Alma)
December 8
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Customer Service
Representative
December 9
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Professional Driver (Alma)
December 10
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Professional Driver
(Jackson)
December 12
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Residential Helper (Fowlerville)
December 12
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Residential Helper (Jackson)
December 13
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Service Writer
December 14
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Professional Driver (Cedar Springs)
December 15
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Professional Driver (Jackson)
December 16
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Environmental Engineer
December 18
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
December 18
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Chief Operating Officer
December 19
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Receiver & Inventory Tracker
December 20
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Congratulations to these associates whose anniversaries fall between now and the next issue of the Gazette.
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Chief Operating Officer
20 Years
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
20 Years
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Professional Driver
(Lansing)
8 Years
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Operations Supervisor
(Alma)
8 Years
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
5 Years
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Professional Driver (Cedar Springs)
5 Years
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Receiver & Inventory Tracker
3 Years
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Customer Service
Representative
3 Years
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Professional Driver
(Lansing)
3 Years
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Professional Driver (Alma)
2 Years
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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Professional Driver (Lansing)
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(517) 372-2800
www.grangerwasteservices.com
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