About C.A.R.T.S.

Orange Avenue Disposal Company has been continuously providing solid waste and recycling services to the City of Fresno for over 64 years. Orange Avenue Disposal Company, Inc. (OAD) operates the Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station (CARTS) Facility and the CARTS Concrete and Asphalt Recycling Center. Orange Avenue Disposal Company, Inc. is authorized to conduct business in the State of California and has a current City of Fresno Business License and a Full Solid Waste Facility Permit from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

 

Frank S. Caglia, the patriarch of the Caglia family, was born in 1912 in the humble village of Muschito, Italy.   Frank, the oldest of 12 children, migrated with his parents and his family by way of Ellis Island and settled in Fresno. Years of hard work and community service has allowed the Caglia Family to become an integral part of the development of Fresno. Fresno has provided a home for three generations and several businesses that take pride in the strong work ethic and high level of integrity that has set the Caglia’s businesses apart over the past seven decades. 

 

When Frank was a young man he began working at the Electric Motor Shop. Early on, he began buying ownership interests in the business. Originally started in 1913, Electric Motor Shop today is one of the Valley’s premier electrical contractors and electrical supply wholesale houses. No one would have predicted this small business would someday develop into a well-known, highly respected Fresno landmark. Richard Caglia, Frank’s son, has been the General Manager of Electric Motor Shop for 30 years and two of his sons work for him today. Frank’s daughter, Sally, has been the Corporate Secretary for the last 20 years. The Electric Motor Shop has also been fortunate enough to do business with the City of Fresno over the years.

 

 

 

This Fresno landmark originally opened as the Pantages Theatre in 1928. With its Italian Renaissance style, it is one of the most ornate buildings of its kind in Fresno. It has been home to some of the most incredible Broadway shows Fresno has ever seen. The Warnors almost met the wrecking ball in 1973 but was saved and lovingly restored back to its original splendor by Frank Caglia. Today, the Warnors Theatre sponsors many community events and fundraising activities championed by the Caglia’s for the good of Fresno.

 

Community redevelopment and community pride are Caglia trademarks. Frank has restored the gateway to downtown Fresno with classic signage and enduring hope. Bringing downtown Fresno back to life is now the passion for Richard Caglia II, Frank’s grandson, and the third generation of Caglias to promote Fresno’s welfare.

 

Frank’s father-in-law bought the old City Landfill from Rossi Disposal Service in 1939. In 1941, Frank purchased the landfill and created Orange Avenue Disposal to perform operations. Long before recycling was in vogue, Frank and his seven children, Joe, Richard, Sally, Vince, Mary Ann, Bernadette, and Rosemary were taught the value of resource conservation at an early age. Frank became quite a collector and has a warehouse of antiques and props that have been used at numerous community functions over the years. The landfill was transformed from a typical dump at the time into a landfill with all the necessary permits. Orange Avenue Disposal has always participated in ‘Keeping America Beautiful’ and offered services to keep Fresno clean as part of the ‘Fresno Beautiful’ campaign in the sixties. Years before Earth Day, Orange Avenue Disposal provided free admission on April 22, 1967 for one truck load of litter to be dumped. Frank’s eldest son, Joe, ran the landfill in the seventies and eighties. Vince Caglia has been the General Manager for the last 17 year  s.

 

The landfill will be closing soon and Frank’s dream of having the top of the landfill a vista point for the people of Fresno is becoming a reality. The closure plans are being prepared for the landfill, but the area will bring new life to the community by offering a park-like setting and picnic grounds overlooking downtown Fresno and the surroundings. Sally Caglia-Martinez will be presenting plans to the City soon to host functions on top of the closed landfill.

 

 

Joe Caglia started Industrial Waste & Salvage in 1971 to collect construction and demolition materials and commercial waste to be recycled or disposed at Orange Avenue Landfill. Vince has expanded operations to include additional roll-off trucks, front-end loaders for commercial material collection, and automated residential trucks. IWS will be bringing their material to the CARTS Facility for recycling. IWS has been servicing the City of Clovis commercial recyclables for over 14 years.

 

The CARTS Facility represents the next generation of solid waste and recycling facilities. Frank took over the old City Landfill with such an entrepreneurial fervor and strong conservation ethics that the landfill will have maintained capacity for 90 years before it closes in 2007 due to his aggressive salvaging and recycling. Nathan Caglia, Frank’s grandson, is the General Manager of OAD Recycling Center. Richard Caglia II is the Director of Corporate Affairs. The next generation of Caglias looks forward to providing the same entrepreneurial spirit at the CARTS Facility and the CARTS Recycling Center where 65% of all material will be recycled, and where landfills may not be needed in the future.

 

Orange Avenue Disposal Company, Inc. has been involved with all aspects of solid waste management and recycling including collection, hauling, processing, marketing and disposal as highlighted below:

 

Orange Avenue Disposal Company, Inc., together with CARTS Recycling Center and Industrial Waste & Salvage and Cedar Avenue Recycling & Transfer Station L.P. employs 117 individuals from the community. The Electric Motor Shop employs another 124 people. There is little turnover and much mutual respect among the staff members.