Collecting trash will probably never be a glamorous business, but few companies have made it as widely charismatic as J.P. Mascaro & Sons.
It wasn’t always that way, of course.
The multimillion-dollar jobs, impressive headquarters on Audubon Road, acres of prime real estate and the inexhaustible philanthropy the company is known for were all half a century away when Joe Mascaro Sr. opened for business in 1964 with a minimalist approach: one pickup truck and one client – the old General Electric plant in King of Prussia.
Since then, his five sons Louis, Frank, Mike, Joe and Pat Mascaro Sr. have taken solid waste and recycling to heights unforeseen the year the Beatles claimed America.
But to Pat Mascaro Sr., now president, it’s all been just a matter of building on his late father’s motto: “If it’s service, it’s us.”
“If you asked me why J.P. Mascaro has achieved the success it has I would say it’s due to the incredible work ethic from our parents … some real true, lead-by-example core values, things that really help you in making good decisions, being ethical in your dealings and being good, caring people,” said Mascaro, sitting in his handsomely appointed office, with walls lined with family photos and memorabilia.
Down the winding hall is the Mascaro Legacy room, featuring framed photos of parents Joe and Ida Mascaro and numerous articles from publications such as The Times Herald.
“We literally worked when we were in high school, at night. My brothers are all older than me and worked from about 5 o’clock to midnight on the truck serving the General Electric contract. The only time I would get off is if I had an away basketball or baseball game to play,” noted the Methacton High School graduate.
“I think we remained true to ourselves; we didn’t try to be something we weren’t and knew what it would take to reach our goals. We knew if we want to keep this business successful we need to keep the trucks clean, put the trash can back on the curb properly and do the right thing.”
The measure of success in the Mascaro world hinges on three touchstones, Mascaro said.
“We’re committed to our customers, employees and the community. If we don’t achieve three out of three, it’s not a good year for the business. If it’s a good year for the Mascaros but not for the community, then that means we failed. And vice versa.
“Our operating approach is very simple also – we put a huge emphasis on service; there’s no such thing as poor service. It doesn’t matter if they pay us $25 or $25 million, every customer deserves the same level of service,” added Mascaro, who cited people as the company’s most valuable asset.
“Regardless of our infrastructure, our financial capability, our trucks, our landfills, our compost and recycling centers … if we don’t have a unified work force, it’s never going to work.”
“Share the well-being” could well be another motto that’s evolved over the years.
“This is a company that recognizes its people very well,” said Mascaro, who seems just as proud of the blood drive orchestrated by son Pat Jr. in honor of his late uncle, Frank Mascaro, earlier this year, as he is of the new $1 million Pioneer Crossing Recycling Center in Exeter, Berks County.
The company’s generosity is legendary. Through programs like the annual RESPECT contest, which encourages artistic expression at elementary schools throughout the area, J.P. Mascaro donates millions of dollars to education each year.
“You get rewards when you give,” Mascaro said. “That’s what I’m most thankful for in this business, that we’re able to share our success with people in need. That’s really important to us. We don’t participate in philanthropy to make the business better. We shouldn’t give a million dollars to this one or that one to make the business better.”
In its 50th anniversary year, the brothers, who are not huge fans of accepting awards, were happy to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship from the National Italian-American Political Action Committee (NIAPAC).
And what better time is there than reaching a 50-year milestone to reflect on the challenges the company has faced, Mascaro said.
“When I reflect on what we had to contend with through the years I shake my head and wonder how we got past all the hurdles. This industry is extremely political, extremely bureaucratic, regulatory-oriented, dominated by multi-national corporations … and quite frankly,” Mascaro added, “I feel those corporations are just a compilation of inferior Mascaros. I truly believe that we have one of the most premier – if not the premier – waste removal companies in the country. How this company does business is at the forefront of so many different things. We’re self-insured, we have our own in house legal department, in house engineers, we build our own buildings, our own environmental compliance department, we really operate outside the box. But all this would not be achievable if not for the loyalty of our customers. And we never forgot that.”
Mascaro was only 28 when his father passed away, in 1981, moving him to forefront.
“My father died young. As far as I’m concerned, this business is still my father’s. Me and my brothers are just carrying forward my father’s dream of his boys working together. We’re probably 75 times bigger now but my father knew we were on our way.”