Michael Malatesta
Founder and President
Advanced Waste Services
1126 S. 70th St # N408B, West Allis
Industry: Environmental Services
Revenue: $30 million
Employees: 150
Michael Malatesta is proof of the adage, “What is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The West Allis business owner has turned his waste removal company into a $30 million a year business.
Malatesta is chief executive officer of West Allis-based Advanced Waste Services, an environmental services firm specializing in non-hazardous and hazardous industrial cleaning, waste disposal and treatment. The company has locations in five states including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
“For manufacturers (that are Advanced Waste Services customers) primarily it’s materials that can’t be put in a trash can or put down the drain,” Malatesta said.
The firm has come a long way since Malatesta and his partner, Butch Weiss, first launched the business in 1992, when the two men were working at an international garbage company. For Malatesta, opportunity came knocking at the perfect time.
“I had gotten an intro into the liquid waste business and decided it was a good niche for us,” Malatesta said. “We had a couple of ideas that we didn’t see people taking advantage of. I had nothing to lose so I went all in.”
Malatesta searched for business. Before long the company was hauling waste across state borders, adding clients and services to their portfolio. Diversifying would prove to be a smart move.
“This business is not about me,” Malatesta said. “It’s about the people who work here, who give us their talent and the clients. It’s about the city, the community and the environment.”
