Charles Lomangino, founder and CEO of Southwest Waste Services, brings more than 20 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry. He has throughout his career been an innovator of processes that have advanced the collection, recycling and disposal of residential and commercial waste.

Lomangino began working in trucking operations of Southern Waste Systems and Sun Recycling, two highly successful family-owned companies, in the summer while attending college. He has held a variety of positions including recycling yard operator, large equipment operator, truck driver and customer service representative.

A graduate of Florida Atlantic University, Lomangino holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. After college, he founded All Star Recycling and All Star Toilets, with a strategic focus on combining the offerings of roll-off containers and portable restrooms to enhance the overall service to his roll-off customers on construction sites.

After successfully operating All Star Recycling and All Star Toilets, Lomangino merged the roll-off division of All Star with Southern Waste Systems (SWS) and Sun Recycling in 2008. Joining as a partner and member of the executive team, he emerged himself in the overall operation, playing a key role in the company’s success.

During this time, he positioned the portable restroom company to broaden its offerings with state-of-the-art equipment that serviced large special events like the Honda Classic, the Allianz Championship, the Cadillac Championship, the South Florida Fair and the Coconut Grove Art Festival in addition to the construction industry. He sold the business in November 2015.

SWS and Sun operations grew to 14 recycling facilities located throughout Southeast Florida and became the industry’s largest privately held recycling company producing record level waste diversion numbers. Both companies were sold to WM in January 2016.

Believing culture is the foundation to any successful business, Lomangino leads his team with a focus on servant leadership within the company and in the work they do in the community.