Leading the way for innovative solid waste solutions

1938

The Rogue Legacy Begins

Brothers-in-law Anthony “Tony” Boitano and Charles “Charlie” Bottjer began City Sanitary Service, in Medford, in 1938. This was the precursor of what would eventually become Rogue Disposal & Recycling. The company was Tony’s third venture in the garbage industry, which began with 100 customers and a horse-drawn wagon in the Mount Tabor area of Portland, Oregon in 1921. He later relocated to Klamath Falls in southern Oregon, where he became one of four partners in that community’s trash franchise. Charlie, who was new to the garbage industry, had a background in logging and heavy equipment operation.

1965

Rogue Founder Helps Establish Oregon Refuse and Recycling Association

Tony Boitano helped found the Oregon Refuse and Recycling Association (ORRA). Always looking ahead, this was during a time when “green” was just a color, not a movement that would one day come to define the industry.

1995

Stephen Gambee Takes the Helm at Family-Run Company

Stephen Gambee, Tony Boitano’s grandson, took over the family-run company as President and CEO — positions he still holds today.

1997

Automation Comes to Rogue Disposal & Recycling

Rogue Disposal & Recycling became the first company in the Rogue Valley to run fully automated garbage routes. This allowed drivers to remain inside the truck and use a joystick-like mechanism to have an arm outside the truck lift, dump and set the trash roll carts back down.

1999

Transfer Station Is Built, Followed by Materials Recovery Facility

The Table Rock Road facility was purchased and redeveloped, becoming what is now commonly called the Transfer Station. This is where residents and businesses can bring trash and recycling, buy compost, drop off medical waste, and bring a variety of items for recycling that can’t be picked up curbside —including electronics, tires, discarded appliances and other hard-to-recycle items.

A year later, the new materials recovery facility was opened. This facility processes cardboard, newspaper, office paper, and curbside recycling materials for shipment to mills and sorting facilities throughout Oregon and Washington. Unlike years past, when material was processed in individual material streams, the recovery facility receives primarily commingled material and cardboard.

2007

Gas-To-Energy Project Harnesses Biogas to Create Electricity

The Dry Creek Landfill Gas to Energy project produces 3.2 megawatts of renewable electricity — enough electricity to supply power to more than 3,000 homes each year.

2011

Vision For Renewable Energy Closed-Loop System Unveiled

Rogue Waste, Inc. announced a bold new vision for energy independence and a commitment to next-level air quality improvements for the Rogue Valley. Plans are underway to develop a facility to harness and process naturally occurring landfill biogas from Dry Creek Landfill into pipeline quality Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) — a renewable fuel source that can be used to fuel Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicles. In conjunction with the Rogue Clean Fuels station, Rogue Waste, Inc. is closer than ever toward our vision for a comprehensive “closed loop” solid waste system. One day, the trucks that collect area trash and recycling will be powered by landfill biogas produced from the garbage generated by residents of the Rogue Valley.

2017

Family of Companies Come Together Under Rogue Waste, Inc.

The overarching company name was changed to Rogue Waste, Inc, creating an umbrella hierarchy under which all other Rogue companies exist and work together as a cohesive, synergistic family.