Mack an essential partner in Independent Recycling Services’ trajectory

Family company pioneers Chicago recycling programs

In Chicago, garbage and recycling don’t wait. Alleys are tight, high-rises stretch skyward, and containers fill fast. For Independent Recycling Services (IRS), every pickup is a promise: to be there when customers need them most.

That commitment has carried the Ward family across three generations and nearly 50 years in business. Founded in 1976 by Frank Ward Sr. with just three trucks, the company began as D&D Disposal before becoming Illinois Recycling Services in 1980, and eventually, Independent Recycling Services two decades ago. Today, IRS runs a fleet of 72 trucks — 60 of them Mack models — making Mack an essential partner in both their history and their future.

A pioneer in recycling

When IRS started, recycling wasn’t part of the city’s fabric. Most businesses simply sent everything to landfills. “We were really one of the pioneers in creating the modern recycling programs Chicago has today,” Frank Ward III, Senior Manager of IRS explains. By leaning on Mack durability, the Ward family helped carve a new path for sustainability in the city — long before it was common practice.

Built for Chicago’s tight corners

Much of IRS’s growth has come in the multi-family residential market — apartment buildings and condominiums where recycling service is a logistical puzzle.

“The Chicago market is extremely demanding. There’s only so many places to put the garbage and recycling, and it needs to be serviced timely,” says Frank Ward III. “That means you need reliable trucks with the right specs. For us, that’s short wheelbases, tight turning radiuses — because they designed all these beautiful buildings, but they forgot where to put the garbage.”

To tackle those challenges, IRS leans heavily on Mack TerraPro and Granite models designed for the city. The fleet includes TE64R rear-load packers and roll-offs, GRB64R roll-offs, and even one TE64R front loader. The cab-over TE64R chassis is a particular standout. “It’s the best fit for tight alleys downtown,” says Craig Teune, Director of Vocational Sales at M&K Truck Centers, IRS’s longtime dealer partner.

Reliability that lasts

Durability runs deep in both Mack trucks and the Ward family philosophy. “My father always loved Mack trucks for their reliability,” Ward says. “He would always over-spec — bigger motors, heavier suspensions, tougher transmissions — because our industry is tough on equipment. You’re going to wear it out eventually. He wanted trucks that could handle it.”

That mindset has kept some Mack trucks from the 1990s still running today, thanks to refurbishments. And Mack’s one-stop parts support keeps downtime to a minimum. “With Mack, everything comes from one place. That’s hard to beat,” Ward adds.

A dealer partnership built on loyalty

For more than 26 years, IRS has turned to Joe Soppi, Account Representative at M&K Truck Centers, for its Mack needs. Together with Craig Teune, Soppi has helped maintain a relationship built on trust and service.

“For close to 20 years, Independent has stuck with Mack, year after year,” says Soppi. “That consistency speaks to the strength of the partnership. Our job is to make sure they get the trucks they need, even when supply is tight.”

He adds that Chicago’s weather presents its own challenges. “With tough duty cycles and harsh winters, reliability matters more than ever. Mack builds trucks that can handle it.”

M&K also provides critical support when breakdowns happen. “Because of the specialty of this equipment, uptime is crucial,” Soppi explains. “When our service centers are overwhelmed, we push IRS to the front of the line to get them in and out quickly. Garbage must get picked up — there’s no waiting.”

IRS handles most maintenance in-house, led by Operations Manager Jacques Camalick, but relies on M&K for warranty work and daily parts delivery to keep its fleet moving. “That kind of turnaround is invaluable,” Ward says.

Behind the wheel

Drivers are the lifeblood of Independent, and Mack helps keep them engaged. For veterans like Mark VanTholen, who has driven trucks for 30 years (eight with IRS), Mack’s blend of consistency and comfort makes the difference.

“The trucks today function the same as the ones I drove 30 years ago, but with more creature comforts,” VanTholen says. “Roomier cabs, smoother rides, automatic transmissions, air conditioning — It all makes the day easier.”

Independent rewards its most loyal drivers with brand-new Mack trucks after 10 years, a perk that makes retention easier in an industry where driver shortages are constant. “If you’ve got reliable equipment that does the job right, it makes it easy to stick around,” VanTholen says.

Trucks that give back

Beyond service and performance, Independent uses its fleet to give back. Many trucks feature custom wraps honoring causes the company supports: the Chicago Police Memorial Fund, Lurie Children’s Hospital, One Tail at a Time, the American Cancer Society, Suicide Prevention initiatives, and more. For IRS, every truck is both a workhorse and a rolling message of community commitment.

Honoring the past, driving the future

On each truck, three characters serve as a reminder of where it all began: “Sr.” — a tribute to founder Frank Ward Sr. “It’s our way of remembering where we came from,” says Ward III.

Today, with Frank Ward Jr., Frank Ward III, Mark VanTholen, and Jacques Camalick helping lead the way, Independent Recycling Services is still a family business at heart. Their story is one of resilience, community, and reliability — and Mack trucks remain right at the center of it.