Community Happenings

On March 1, 2023, Meridian Waste launched an exciting “Brightening the World” Earth Day Coloring Contest for children in two age groups: 5-7 years and 8-10 years. Our young participants were given artwork templates inspired by Meridian Waste’s commitment to clean communities, conveying to the young artists that by keeping the environment clean and green through proper waste management, they too can do their part for the planet. All children throughout the United States were eligible to participate.

In total, EcoWaste supplied 25 standard restrooms, 3 ADA restrooms, and 5 hand wash stations. We can guarantee that these portable restrooms and hand washing stations were well received by the City and its Jazz Fest guests in their “moments of need!"  

Meridian Waste announces the promotion of Cooper Tharp to site manager at Shotwell Environmental Park. Tharp’s three years with Meridian Waste have progressively increased with site responsibility and compliance knowledge, first as a heavy equipment operator to landfill supervisor, and most recently to site manager. 

In April, following the Shotwell Environmental Park’s Earth Day Easter Egg Hunt, Meridian Waste donated the remaining Earth Day Goody Bags to the students of the East Wake Education Foundation.

Ashleigh Garnes, General Manager - Blue Ridge Hauling & MRF Operations, flanked by Chief Operating Officer -Dave Lavender (left) and Vice President of Operations - Charlie Gray (right) pose for a photo at WasteExpo 5/2/2023 upon receipt of Ashleigh’s 40 Under 40 Award from Waste 360 for expemplary operational efficiencies and community involvement efforts in her market area of Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia.

On Earth Day 2022, Meridian Waste’s Eagle Ridge Landfill hosted its Great Big Earth Day Party welcoming over 330 neighbors and guests to highlight the features of our state-of-the-art municipal solid waste landfill and have some family fun. One of the environmental give-aways that we shared with our community were tree saplings and flower seeds.

The online contest took place over the last 50 days nationwide with 162 entries received.  Three winners were placed in each age category of 5-7 and 8-10 years of age. 

With a background in sales, Ashleigh Garnes, a five-year employee with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Meridian Waste, taps into her people skills to manage her region and establish a customer service culture across Meridian’s Blue Ridge, Virginia, operations.

She shares more about her work at Meridian Waste in an interview with Waste Today Magazine.