R & R Refuse isn’t “waste-ing” any time proving themselves as one of the premiere waste disposal companies in the region.
The Osborne-based company, in operation since 2013, provides residential and commercial trash service to communities in the counties of Osborne, Rooks, and Russell. Additionally, they provide rolloff services throughout northwest Kansas.
The service is co-owned by Environmental Specialists Taylor and Doug Rippe, hence the “R & R” in the company’s title. “Everybody knows everybody and it always feels like home,” Taylor Rippe said, about what it’s like to operate a company in Northwest Kansas.
Replying mainly on their quality of work to sell their services, R & R Refuse offers a variety of services in the waste field. “The types of services we offer are polycart service, dumpster service and rolloff service through R & R. Our other business Pots2Go offers portable toilets and handwashing stations,” said Rippe.
Rippe’s interest in the waste industry dates back to his high school days, when he worked for a trash company out of Smith Center. Following his graduation from Cloud County Community College is when the ball really began rolling. “After attending college at Cloud County Community College, I found a trash company for sale and my dad and I purchased it. Back then I had no idea how to run a company and had to learn on the fly. In January 2017 I made the decision to return to college at FHSU and pursue a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in operations management. What I learned in college was a game changer for our logistics and competitive strategy.”
Rippe & Rippe purchased a local trash company in May 2013 and quickly worked to expand into serving more territories. Two and a half years later, in October 2015, the Rippe purchased a second trash company that also allowed them to settle a territory in Russell County.
The company itself has evolved a bit over time, but the mission is unwavering. “The mission in the beginning was to provide quality service to our customers. We have always put quality over quantity because if you place quantity over quality you are setting yourself up for a losing situation within the business market. Without quality service, you will not have customers to quantify,” Rippe explained.
The company employs five persons, but Rippe said they are always looking for more. “Who wants a job?” he not-so-jokingly asks. In addition to Taylor and Doug, the rest of the personnel running the successful business are Jamie Rippe, secretary, Will Graf, driver, and Joey Neumann, truck operator.
R & R has an end goal of keeping it simple for the customer. Long-term, the company hopes to branch out to other territories and to employ more workers throughout the small communities of northwest Kansas. “We take pride in our customers and employees because they are the backbone of our organization. Without loyal customers or employees an organization cannot effectively operate,” stated Rippe.
Though R & R may not be the biggest waste company around, they do pride themselves on providing all the same services as a larger organization would. “There are bigger refuse organizations that have a higher cash flow, which allows for more advanced equipment, products and services but we don’t let that affect us. We may not be able to afford the “fancy” trucks and high class equipment but without quality those expensive assets are going to be just that, expensive assets. Quality is the key word,” stated Rippe.
The business operates Monday-Friday from 6am until the job is done. They stick to their same schedule unless the weather begs to differ and interferes with the set schedule. The rolloff trucks are operated on an as-needed basis.
Like any business, R & R does face a set of challenges. “The three challenges that we face constantly are fuel prices, supply chains and employee retention… In recent years, supply chains have taken a toll on many businesses small and large. For us to properly serve our customers, we have to receive products in a timely manner to provide our customers with the services they desire which has become a daunting task ever since COVID and the increase in steel prices. Employee retention is a challenge every business should face because if you are not trying to keep your employees, chances are they won’t stay. Most successful businesses are constantly trying to retain their employees because it is expensive and time consuming to hire new recruits and it takes time away from focusing on the goals of the organization.”
However, the benefits of owning the business and serving the area far outweigh any of the disadvantages. “I grew up in Northwest Kansas and most of all I enjoy the people who are here. The communities we service are full of great people who know each other and are always willing to help. The backing we have from the communities is so amazing it makes work not feel so much like work. I also love the small-town school our children attend in Osborne, Kansas,” said Rippe.
To their customers, everyone at R & R would like to say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. We truly could not do this without you, and the communities we service make every day special. Thank you for supporting our organization so we can continue to make an impact on northwest Kansas and do what we love.”
You can follow R & R Refuse on Facebook for more information and updates about their company, or contact them at (785) 346-2264.
