65 Years and Counting with Our Founder Mr. Vogel

12/21/2023

Celebrating 65 years in business, Vogel Disposal Service has not only weathered the changing tides of industry in greater Pittsburgh but has also played an integral role in the local business landscape. Mr. Vogel founded our business in 1958 at a time when Pittsburgh was thriving and his own family was beginning to grow.

Whenever we reach milestones in our company, we enjoy looking back at our history and appreciating the hard work that it took to get here. On our 65th anniversary, we sat down with Mr. Vogel to look back together at the growth of our company.

How did you both build a company with a young family?
“We got married in 1955. I started the business in 1958 with a wife and 2 children under two. It took a lot of patience. I had no money; I was trying to build something for the future to support my family.” – Mr. Vogel

“Sometimes I think it was just two dumb kids, with no education but a lot of determination.” – Mrs. Vogel

What did your day look like?
It went by fast; I was still helping my dad on the farm. I was working 3 jobs and doing any other work I could find. I would do anything for anyone to make a living.

How many customers could you service in a day compared to now?
I didn’t have that many, only a few streets. It was only enough to fill a half day of work, normally on Saturdays. At the time everyone had backyard service. I would carry a big plastic barrel to the backyard and fill it up then would carry it over my shoulder to the truck, it was an open-body dump truck, so I had to climb on the side of the truck to dump it.

What was the biggest challenge?
Never having enough money, that’s the reason it took years to put together.

How did you pick the color of your trucks?
I love red, it is my favorite color. We tried green, and it didn’t look good.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs just starting out?
Go to lectures. My little education is from listening to lectures. I went to all the environmental lectures near here.

How much did the truck cost then vs. now?
I borrowed $500 for my first very old, used truck. Today they can cost upwards of $500,000.

What’s your favorite part of the business?
Buying equipment and going to auctions.

What’s a fun fact about the business?
The landfill is not what you see in movies. When people take tours of the landfill, they are very impressed. It’s not a dump, it’s a landfill which is a renewable energy source. We take the methane gas and clean it up to run some of our trucks.

What is an achievement you are proud of?
I am proud of the whole operation. We have grown from one employee to over seven hundred. We are a good public service.

The dedication, innovation, and community spirit embodied by Mr. Vogel have been the driving forces behind the success of Vogel Disposal Service. As our team extends our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Vogel for his vision and leadership, we must also thank the countless individuals who have been part of this incredible journey. Celebrating 65 years of growth and innovation, we eagerly anticipate the future, where we will continue to build upon the strong foundation established by our founder. Embracing fresh challenges, we are committed to discovering innovative ways to better serve and uplift our community.