The Athens Way: Service, People, Environment

The Athens Way Culture

After more than 60 years, Athens Services remains a family-owned and operated company built on an unwavering commitment to service, its employees, and the environment. At the core of its success is The Athens Way, a business philosophy that underscores a company culture that:

  • Emphasizes superior customer service;
  • Respects and celebrates employees and promotes workplace safety; and
  • Embraces environmental stewardship through the use of clean technology to increase recycling and landfill diversion.


Founded by Jack Arakelian in 1957 as a trash hauling company with just one truck, today Athens Services is the largest privately held environmental services company in Southern California.
With more than a quarter of a million customers in 50 cities and county areas, a fleet of more than 900 vehicles, and a portfolio of facilities that includes two state-of-the-art materials recovery facilities, Athens Services’ future is as bright as its storied past.

Company Milestones

  1. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayAthens Services Founded

    1957
  2. The Athens WayCovina Disposal Acquisition

    The Athens Way
    1985
  3. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayValley MRF Built

    1996
  4. The Athens WaySun Valley MRF Built

    The Athens Way
    2014
  5. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayrecycLA Proposal Awarded

    2016
  6. The Athens WayRecology / AES Acquisition

    The Athens Way
    2017
  7. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayStart of recycLA Program

    JULY 2017
  8. The Athens WayrecycLA Transition Completed

    The Athens Way
    JAN 2018
  9. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayFirst recycLA Star Awarded to LMU

    APRIL 2018
  10. The Athens WayRecycling Ambassador Program Launched

    The Athens Way
    2019
  11. The Athens Way

    The Athens WayCompletion of American Organics Expansion

    2020
  12. The Athens WayIrwindale MRF Scheduled to Open

    The Athens Way
    2023

Awards and Recognitions

  1. The Athens WayAthens recognized by Azusa City Council for their support of the first “Kids Come First Golf Tournament” The Athens WayAthens Services honored as the “Always Going to Bat for the Community” by the Woman’s Division of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Installation Luncheon The Athens WayAthens Services presented with Environmental Innovation Award by the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce The Athens WayAthens Services honored by the City of West Covina as a sponsor of The Greater West Covina Business Association 2014 Summer Concert Series. The Athens Way2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick The Athens WayAthens Services was honored by San Gabriel Mission for their continued annual sponsorship of their Fiesta The Athens WayGold Award Winner for Best Industrial Project of 2015 from the San Fernando Valley BusinessJournal
    Prior Years
  2. The Athens WayAthens recognized by Azusa City Council for their support of the first “Kids Come First Golf Tournament” The Athens WayAthens Services honored as the “Always Going to Bat for the Community” by the Woman’s Division of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Installation Luncheon The Athens WayAthens Services presented with Environmental Innovation Award by the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce The Athens WayAthens Services honored by the City of West Covina as a sponsor of The Greater West Covina Business Association 2014 Summer Concert Series.
    2016
  3. The Athens WayAthens recognized by Azusa City Council for their support of the first “Kids Come First Golf Tournament” Athens Services honored as the “Always Going to Bat for the Community” by the Woman’s Division of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Installation Luncheon Athens Services presented with Environmental Innovation Award by the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce Athens Services honored by the City of West Covina as a sponsor of The Greater West Covina Business Association 2014 Summer Concert Series. The Athens Way2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick
    2017
  4. The Athens WayAthens recognized by Azusa City Council for their support of the first “Kids Come First Golf Tournament” The Athens WayAthens Services honored as the “Always Going to Bat for the Community” by the Woman’s Division of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Installation Luncheon The Athens WayAthens Services presented with Environmental Innovation Award by the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce
    2018
  5. The Athens WayAthens recognized by Azusa City Council for their support of the first “Kids Come First Golf Tournament” The Athens WayAthens Services honored as the “Always Going to Bat for the Community” by the Woman’s Division of the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Installation Luncheon The Athens WayAthens Services presented with Environmental Innovation Award by the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce The Athens WayAthens Services honored by the City of West Covina as a sponsor of The Greater West Covina Business Association 2014 Summer Concert Series. The Athens Way2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick The Athens WayAthens Services was honored by San Gabriel Mission for their continued annual sponsorship of their Fiesta The Athens WayGold Award Winner for Best Industrial Project of 2015 from the San Fernando Valley Business Journal
    2019

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