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 to the environment. At the core of its success is The Athens Way, a business philosophy that underscores a company culture which:
  • 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 two trucks, 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. Athens Services Founded

    1957

  2. Covina Disposal Acquisition

    1985

  3. Valley MRF Built

    1996

  4. Sun Valley MRF Built

    2014

  5. recycLA Proposal Awarded

    2016

  6. Recology / AES Acquisition

    2017

  7. Start of recycLA Program

    JULY 2017

  8. recycLA Transition Completed

    JAN 2018

  9. First recycLA Star Awarded to LMU

    APRIL 2018

  10. Recycling Ambassador Program Launched

    2019

  11. Completion of American Organics Expansion

    2020

  12. Irwindale MRF Scheduled to Open

    2023

Awards and Recognitions

  1. Athens 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. 2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick Athens Services was honored by San Gabriel Mission for their continued annual sponsorship of their Fiesta Gold Award Winner for Best Industrial Project of 2015 from the San Fernando Valley BusinessJournal
    Prior Years
  2. Athens 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.
    2016
  3. Athens 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. 2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick
    2017
  4. Athens 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
    2018
  5. Athens 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. 2014 Community Star Award presented to Mary McKenrick Athens Services was honored by San Gabriel Mission for their continued annual sponsorship of their Fiesta Gold Award Winner for Best Industrial Project of 2015 from the San Fernando Valley Business Journal
    2019