Talking Trash - The Waste Hauling Salesperson's Moral Dilemma

I have been in the waste industry for over 20 years,company out there in any industry must invest the
selling the service, negotiating and enforcing haulertime, money, and resources in researching their
contracts, re- negotiating waste hauler contracts formarket to come up with the best ethical strategies
clients, and selling waste handling equipment. When itto be successful.
comes to talking trash, I rank up there with the bestHerein lies the Salesperson's moral dilemma. My
of them.experience tells me that, as a salesperson for a
The waste hauling industry is a market that is worthwaste hauler, you are trained to look at a potential
billions. The companies involved in it are all vying forcustomer's waste and to offer your company's
their market share. They are investing millions ofhauling services. You are discouraged from talking to
dollars in equipment, labor, training, and sales tothem about recycling methods. You are required to
capture as much of that market as they can. It is anclassify as much of their waste as trash as you
industry that is fantastically diverse and constantlypossibly can. The waste haulers demand this from
changing. It offers a person like me the opportunityyou and encourage you to employ their strategy by
to help people and the challenges that I thrive on.paying maximum commissions for single waste
I truly believe that, buried deep down under all thestream contracts.
garbage that is taught and trained to the industry'sIn today's world of people and governments
sales people, very often you will find a closetconcerned about the issues created by landfills,
environmentalist. A person that truly cares about thepollution, and global warming, it is unconscionable for
effects that waste has on all of us.waste haulers to be advertising how they are
But, as a salesperson that wants to be successful inworking to be stewards of our environment and at
this industry, you must participate in the salesthe same time practicing and encouraging this
strategies that are mandated by the waste hauler.strategy for nothing more than higher profits.
As they will tell the rookie salesperson, they haveIt is this inconsistency that creates a moral dilemma
invested a lot of resources, time, and money infor the salespeople that want to help the
researching the market to come up with theenvironment by educating the customer about
strategies that will maximize your sales and theirrecycling but are required to classify and send as
profits.much waste to landfill as they possibly can.
I want it to be understood that I believe that any