Modern Disposal Services brings creative leadership to forefront at Buffalo State University

Guest editorial and photos by Modern Disposal Services

When most people think of Modern Disposal Services, they picture trucks, recycling and trash totes and dumpsters. But behind every route, every collection and every sustainability initiative is a highly trained, forward-thinking team making decisions every day.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, Modern Disposal Services’ leadership team gathered at Buffalo State University’s Center for an “Applied Imagination for a Creative Leadership Thinking” session led by Tim Switalski, founder and president of Darwin Associates.

The session, hosted in the very place where Switalski’s own creative leadership journey began, highlighted a powerful truth: Modern is much more than a garbage and recycling company. Modern is a complex, innovative materials management organization powered by people, strategy and imagination.

With more than 250 trucks on the road each day, over 600 employees, and seven major operating locations across Western New York and Southern Ontario, Modern manages one of the most intricate logistics networks in the region. Every route is a carefully choreographed system … balancing customer needs, traffic patterns, sustainability goals, safety protocols, equipment capacity, and regulatory compliance in real time.

Modern partners with municipalities, businesses and organizations of nearly every industry to keep our region running smoothly, from neighborhood streets to iconic landmarks like Highmark Stadium, KeyBank Center, Buffalo State University, City Hall and Seneca One Tower. It’s not just about collecting material; it’s about managing resources. Modern plays a critical role in helping clients achieve sustainability and recycling goals, reducing environmental impact, and planning for the future of materials management in a rapidly changing world.

Behind every container, compactor and collection schedule is a sophisticated network of teams across logistics, fleet maintenance, safety, sustainability planning, human resources, procurement, customer service and more, all working together to keep operations seamless.

Photos courtesy of Modern Disposal Services.

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Modern proudly owns and operates the largest state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility in Western New York and a landfill in Lewiston, that sets industry standards for innovation. The company maintains more than 390 vehicles, highly specialized equipment, and custom solutions for clients with unique needs, all while maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility. That kind of performance is built through intention, training, and a deep commitment to excellence.

Modern’s drivers are not only operators, they are also highly trained professionals responsible for safely navigating neighborhoods, operating heavy equipment, understanding the purpose of the materials they are collecting, and representing Modern in every community they serve.

“Our owners and CEO, Derek Veenhof, understand that the future of the environmental services industry will be shaped by creativity as much as by technology,” said Nate Marton, president of post collections. “That’s why we asked Tim Switalski to challenge us to think differently, work smarter and lead Modern to its fullest potential. We want Modern to be the best in the industry, and that starts with how our people think.”

Photos courtesy of Modern Disposal Services.

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Full-circle moment at Buffalo State

Holding this creative leadership session at Buffalo State University’s Center for Applied Imagination made the session especially meaningful. Buffalo State is home to the first graduate program in the world dedicated to the science of creativity, and its Master of Science in creativity and change leadership is recognized globally for producing leaders who imagine, innovate and solve complex problems. This is the very foundation of Tim Switalski’s work.

Switalski earned his Master of Science in creativity and change leadership from Buffalo State, later serving as director of leadership development at the university, and has spent three decades helping organizations unlock leadership and creative potential through Darwin Associates, his Buffalo-based innovation consulting firm.

Switalski is a trusted partner in Modern’s leadership team’s growth. The team has worked closely with Switalski for the past two years, during which he has served on the company’s board of directors and guided the leadership team through refining its mission, vision and values.

“Tim has a rare gift,” Veenhof said. “Just when you think you’ve stretched your imagination to its fullest potential, he helps you look at a challenge through a creative lens and make the outcome even better. The work we’ve done with him has made us stronger as individuals and as a company.”

By bringing its leadership team to Buffalo State’s Center for Applied Imagination, Modern is making a clear statement: Innovation is not optional. … It’s essential to building a safer, more sustainable future. Because at Modern Disposal Services, creativity doesn’t just belong in a classroom, it drives how the company serves its customers, its employees, and its communities every day.”

Photos courtesy of Modern Disposal Services.

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More about Modern

Celebrating 61 years as a local, family-owned business, Modern Corporation remains committed to serving the community's materials management and recycling needs. With over 600 employees in Western New York and Southern Ontario, Modern is dedicated to recycling and reusing the planet's finite resources, fostering a sustainable environment for future generations.

Modern proudly owns and operates Buffalo Recycling Enterprises, the largest state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility in Western New York. Modern strives to reduce carbon emissions across all business operations. With approximately 150 Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) garbage and recycling trucks and adding more electric trucks to its fleet of over 390 vehicles, Modern is actively transitioning toward a fossil fuel-free future.

Additionally, Modern’s landfill, located in Lewiston, sets industry standards for innovation. It utilizes gas extraction technology to power a 12MW capacity station, which supplies electricity equivalent to over 10,000 homes annually.

As a locally owned, family business, Modern has been giving back to the WNY community since its inception. Our direct and in-kind donations and sponsorships have supported arts and entertainment, environmental education, health care, community safety, and other charitable endeavors.

Modern remains “Dedicated to the Community and Committed to the Environment.”

Photos courtesy of Modern Disposal Services.