Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Forte’.
Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey in waste and recycling management started in 1998. I was introduced to the waste and recycling industry from Clifford Fields. He took me on a ride-along in a BFI work truck. I recall going to the back door of a home to collect the waste for the full scope of service. It happened to be Charles Barkley’s home. My mom has a family friend who happens to be like a sister to her and more like an aunt to me, well in 2003, my aunt was talking to a gentleman who happened to be in the waste and recycling industry.
He was the owner. He and I took a liking to each other and I referred to him as “Unk.” I begin to help out on the weekends on the pickup truck routes. I did this off and on for years. In 2012 my Unk gave me a call. He said Christopher. I’m ready to launch this attack, which was the start of us launching a new company. I connected him with a friend of mine who decided to go into business with us and ended up investing 10k. As a result, my Unk made me a founding member with owning 10% of the company. He drove the truck while I collected all the waste. We started at one day a week, to two days, to four and six days a week of service. In 2014 we grew the company to 2.4 million a year in revenue. By 2015 it grew to 3.6 million a year in revenue. We eventually cut our business ties in 2015 due to our differences and his inability to honor certain agreements. I then began to work for republic waste shortly after. I gained the nickname “Thunder Cat” throughout the entire service yard due to my work ethic on the back of the truck (my technique & passion).
After three months of being part of Republic Waste/BFI, I left the job. I left due to the pay of $130.00 a day (6) days a week as Republic overworked me, with me working solo as two men on the back of the waste truck. I would complete 22-24 tons per day at Republic Services of waste collection. It was at this moment that I realized that from my experience with “Unk” I developed the kind of skills with closing deals that made me confident with believing I could channel that energy in starting a company on my own. In 2015, I was now 25 years old… I sat in my mom’s back yard and I began to cry out to God and began asking Him for answers. He gave me TAYS Waste, Taking Away Your Sanitation as a company to start. Me and my daughter, mom, niece and nephew went to Moody Gardens.
I woke up the next morning to a newspaper article with republic waste on the front cover. It was saying that the community residents wanted to change as too many complaints. I quickly went to the business center and created a TAYS waste Gmail account. After emailing the city with what I know, they quickly sent me answers and were ready for a bid. I didn’t know what to do. It was in September 2015 one of my mother’s former board members of her company/ministry who also happened to be an owner of ARA Newmark company. He is a great God-fearing man and God placed it on his heart for him to give me 50k upfront to start the business. He said I was either going to fail or be crazy successful. The following week I located a truck for purchase near Mexico.
While in-route to Harlingen, Texas I had already closed (6) contracts that were (5) year contracts. Shortly after launching I reached out to the Copperfield Community. They were wanting to get rid of the current hauler. This community produced 3.2 million a year. After going to present to the Copperfield community with God on my side I was able to solidify the contract. The next day I got a call from the contract provider who happened to be WCA waste Corp of America. It was the VP and the COO. They wanted to have dinner to retain the contract and offer a counter deal. We contracted and started with 1,500 homes weekly to service since TAYS had just started and we only had one truck. I accepted the deal and negotiated with WCA to waive my disposal costs since they owned the landfill and this is their waste that was being disposed of. They then breached the agreement in the contract and began to charge me disposal fees. As a result, I gave them the subcontract deal back and began to intentionally acquire their accounts (becoming their competitor). By mid-2016 TAYS had gone out of business due to a truck break down that required the truck to be in the shop for three days. In the waste and recycling industry, property managers, Home Owner Associations, City Councils, etc. will immediately see that as a problem and will go out for new bids or get an emergency hauler and cancel the agreement.
By October 2016 I had started Texan Waste. Texan waste began to take over the entire southwest side of Houston, Texas as far as the Townhome communities. By October 2017, Texan Waste had started its largest contract of 3000 residents. This one contract alone produced (38k-50k) monthly. It was one of my dream contracts that were taken after (90) days due to politics, even though I over-performed my competitors. By February 2018, I had lost my investor due to losing the City contract that I intended on having (5) years. The City waited till one of my supporting votes left the country on his normal yearly leave to call a meeting that caused me to lose (4-3). By March 2018 I had closed four additional (3) year contacts; Atascocita South which produced 17k monthly in revenue, City Park, which produced 14k monthly in revenue, and Park Pointe, which produced 5k monthly in revenue, to name a few. March 28, 2020 in the Midwest Royal Eagle Waste & Recycling LLC was launched with over 80+ inquires for subscription service alongside 50+ new enrollments! Christopher will be 31 Jan 11 2021 and believe 2021 is the year he takes back all that the enemy has stolen from past and failed ventures and contracts as a firm believer in the faith and speaker for CHPHNATION clean hands pure heart ministries The Mega Trash Man.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Royal Eagle Waste & Recycling LLC – Texan Environmental Waste Inc?
I have a full waste and recycling company we specialize in waste and recycling pickup from residential communities alongside commercial properties. We also do valet waste as well door to door. I am most proud of having the opportunity to give jobs to 15+ people in the field from 2015-2021 from Texas to the Midwest I was very thankful to close the city of Stafford Texas contract where I took Stafford high school to the state semifinals! I am very thankful to have the opportunity to sponsor a city-wide clean-up for the city of Stafford in 2016! I am also excited to have the opportunity to sponsor a city-wide food drive in 2020 due to COVID-19 1500 plus meals! Alongside city of Stafford council runner Xavier H. & Judge in Ft Bend Christian Beccera! I also was thankful to have an 18-wheeler deliver food and clothes to the Stafford msd school gym after hurricane Harvey! Alongside Rauma Camp with OnTrack ministries, Craig Robertson New Orleans Saints. What sets me apart from others is that not only do I go into a room to meet clients and share my story I also still enjoy working in the field. The bottom man in the industry would be the guys on the back of the truck. The average helper on the back makes 90-120 per day. Many companies feel that a lot of the men are replaceable and there is a high overturn. I never experienced high overturn personally as I started on the back of the truck, so I create a certain culture due to knowing the helper on the back of truck concerns and issues on back / routes. To date, I will still do a route on the back of the truck as I believe if we don’t have good men on the back or men that we actually share and show we care about then it can hurt the brand being a startup. Every contract & every employee matter. If we don’t have men to pick up the trash, how does the contract be fulfilled? So why do the men on the back make the lowest capital within the company alongside the driver? This is something I want to continue to change in the industry as I believe the field matters!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was going to work with one of my church families in 1998. Cliff and his son John field and I went to pick up a route in the pickup truck after John cub scouts meeting on a Saturday. We were in a BFI pickup and serviced Charles Barkley home.
Contact Info:
- Email: Operations@royaleaglewaste.net
- Website: www.royaleaglewaste.net
- Instagram: Royaleaglewaste
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/ncoTL00O2Zs
