STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After growing up in the shadow of the Fresh Kills Landfill, Gregory Lettieri knew he wanted to develop a business that would revolutionize the waste and recycling industry.
“I want to bring the waste industry into the future,” said Lettieri, a former Great Kills resident. “I want companies to look toward recycling material instead of bringing waste to a landfill.”
And with the notion in mind, Lettieri, along with his longtime friend, Adam Pasquale, launched RTS (Recycle Track Systems) in March 2015.
“Adam is the fourth generation in his family in the waste business. …We hired a team of developers to help build out the technology. It’s very similar to what you see in the car service industry or how you order food today,” said Lettieri, who formerly worked in the technology department for Bank of America.
“In our on-demand world, where packages are delivered globally within 24 hours and a car can be ordered on a app, we have created similar technology to bring that type of efficiency to the waste and recycling industry,” he added.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RTS customers can use their iPhone application to request removal of bulk or junk material on-demand, said Lettieri.
“Simply downloading the RTS app will allow customers easy access to ordering waste and recycling pick-up ranging from organic waste to any bulk curbside items,” he said, noting RTS transports more than 1 million pounds of organic food waste each month for composting in local farms.
The company’s clients include Whole Foods, WeWork, Soul Cycle, Juice Press, and waste and recycling for Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
HELPING ISLAND BUSINESSES
RTS started with a Staten Island rollout and has rapidly expanded on the East Coast. Partnerships with Staten Island natives, such as Century Waste owner Marc Savino from Dongan Hills, have been key to the company’s mission of environmental sustainability, Lettieri said.
“Century Waste already has a robust service operation in New York and New Jersey. By working with RTS, we are able to support their on-demand requests with trucks already on the road. We also worked together in building one of the biggest compost routes in New York City,” said Savino.
A greener Staten Island is what Lettieri hopes to accomplish,” he said.
“Growing up on Staten Island, all you heard about was the landfill. I am proud that RTS, a company with Staten Island DNA, is helping to change the recycling and carting industry. We service some of the largest buildings, hotels and popular restaurants in New York City. Helping implement recycling programs and giving customers the ability to confirm the material was actually recycled through our technology platform delivers a new level of accountability and service to the industry,” said Lettieri.
– Tracey Porpora | SILive