(Atlantic) The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated Cook Sanitation on Thursday, September 10th, following the company’s recent purchase of Hepler Sanitation and expansion in the Atlantic community.
Cook Sanitation has been part of the area for more than 50 years. Dalton Cook shared that his grandfather, Don Cook Sr., took over the business in 1973 from his brother Darrell Cook. At one time, five sanitation businesses served Atlantic. Over the years, some closed while others were purchased as owners retired.
For Dalton, the latest expansion brought some reflection on just how much the family business has changed.
He said his grandfather would be proud to see what Cook Sanitation has become. Even with several competitors operating in Atlantic over the years, Dalton said the businesses weren’t out to take customers from one another. They were local families making a living, raising their families and serving the community.
The purchase of Hepler Sanitation nearly doubled Cook Sanitation’s residential customer base and added two garbage trucks to its fleet. The company also kept Hepler employees on staff, including drivers who already knew their routes and customers. Residential collection expanded from three days a week to four to spread out the additional workload.
Cook Sanitation currently employs around eight full-time employees along with several part-time employees. In addition to residential and commercial garbage collection, the company offers recycling, roll-off dumpsters, construction and demolition services, and other waste removal services. Its roll-off fleet includes approximately 75 dumpsters in several sizes for everything from home cleanouts to larger construction projects.
The expansion prompted a few changes behind the scenes, too. Drivers now have tablets with routes and customer information instead of relying on handwritten notes passed between the office and trucks. Customers can also receive bills by email and make payments online.
Despite the growth, Dalton said knowing the people they serve remains one of the advantages of being a local company. That familiarity can be especially helpful when handling rental properties, family accounts and other situations that aren’t always as simple as a name and address on a bill.
Cook Sanitation has also donated services to community projects, including Atlantic’s citywide cleanup. Dalton said giving back, whether through financial support or donated services, is important to the family.
He also sees the business as one small piece of a bigger challenge facing southwest Iowa. While many people from his generation moved away, family businesses and local opportunities gave him a reason to stay. As Cook Sanitation grows, he hopes it can continue providing good jobs and another reason for younger people to build their lives here.
