Community Happenings

Local Graduate, Cooper Tharp, excels in environmental services and is promoted 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. As site manager, Tharp will be responsible for the management of disposal acceptance, operations, maintenance, and compliance including supervising a team of disposal operators. Tharp is a certified North Carolina Landfill Operator earning the designation in March 2022.

Tharp graduated from Corinth Holders High School in Wendell, NC, in 2020. He began his environmental career maintaining golf courses for the Fred Smith Company. He was responsible for cutting greens, pruning bushes, and operating various large and small landscaping equipment. In May 2020, Tharp joined the Meridian Waste team transitioning from smaller earth moving equipment to very large and industrial "yellow iron" or heavy equipment used in the excavation, operations, and maintenance of modern-day landfills.  He showed skill at his work and, most importantly, a willingness and interest to learn more about the vital community infrastructure needs of landfill disposal. Tharp was promoted to Landfill Supervisor within four months of starting employment with Meridian Waste and earned his landfill operator’s certification while assisting in the overall management of Shotwell Environmental Park. The facility is a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality permitted construction and demolition debris (C&D) landfill located at 4724 Smithfield Road, Wendell, NC 27591.

Shotwell Environmental Park accepts waste generated from construction, renovation, repair, and demolition of houses, large building structures, roads, bridges, piers, and dams. C&D waste primarily includes wood, steel, concrete, gypsum, masonry, plaster, metal, plastics, shingles, and asphalt. It excludes household waste such as food waste. The site is currently constructing an onsite, state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to recycle economically viable waste materials including metal, wood, brick, and other needed materials utilized in the construction recycling industry.

“Cooper is an outstanding team member and deserving of this esteemed promotion. He is committed to doing a job completely and effectively, with an attitude of excitement and continuous learning, and he possesses a keen understanding of protecting the natural environment through diligent compliance," stated Josh Daher, Meridian Waste’s Area President in North Carolina.

"Cooper understands the need to have our environmental disposal facilities become an integral part of our community. We frequently invite the public to visit and understand how we work to manage the disposal needs of the community while protecting our natural resources,” he said.

Shotwell Environmental Park’s next community event is its annual Splash Bash scheduled for Saturday, August 19 from 10am until 2pm. The public is welcome to attend the event, and a free lunch will be served to all who RSVP by visiting the website at www.MeridianWaste.com/Shotwell.