Jeff Edwards

Owner & President at Evergreen Disposal

Speaker

Jeff Edwards is a second-generation waste hauler with more than 30 years of experience in the solid waste and recycling industry. His journey began in 1990 at just 13 years old, working summers and holidays for his family’s trash company. After the business was sold to Republic Services during his college years, Jeff’s father launched a new hauling company in 2002, where Jeff led direct sales and marketing—learning firsthand how to build a business from the ground up.In 2003, Jeff briefly stepped away from the industry to work in new home sales for a national builder, but his passion for waste services ultimately brought him back. In 2008, he and his business partner founded a direct sales and marketing firm focused on door‑to‑door campaigns for trash and recycling providers. That venture laid the foundation for the launch of Evergreen Disposal in Waldorf, Maryland, in 2009.Under Jeff’s leadership, Evergreen has grown into the largest residential hauler serving Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Counties, and in 2024 expanded into Northern Virginia, quickly becoming one of the region’s fastest‑growing service providers. Supported by a dedicated team of more than 100 employees, Evergreen continues to grow and provides nearly 200,000 services each week.Jeff has been a leading advocate for independent haulers across Maryland and Virginia, consistently championing fair competition and community‑based service. He successfully opposed franchising efforts three times in Charles County and played a key role in the passage of Maryland’s 2017 House Bill 1300—the state’s only “just compensation” law protecting haulers from forced displacement. Most recently, Jeff and Evergreen have led the fight against franchising in Fairfax County, using grassroots outreach and innovative technology to delay implementation indefinitely, underscoring Evergreen’s commitment to sustainable growth and protecting local haulers at the state level.In recognition of his impact on the industry, Jeff received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Waste & Recycling Association in 2018.