SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Cris and Dan Thompson
Z Recyclers Inc. By John D’Onofrio
H
ere in Whatcom County we take our recycling seriously. A large number of local businesses have evolved to manage the trend. But it’s not a new idea. Z Recyclers in Lynden has provided recycling services from their facility a block off the Guide Meridian just south of Lynden since 1971. The husband-and-wife team of Dan and Cris Thompson runs the business. Dan serves as president and general manager, while Cris handles the dual roles of secretary/ treasurer. Z Recyclers is a classic family business. Cris’ s father, Art Zawicki, previously had started it as Puget Sound Salvage in 1964, and later called it Z Auto Wrecking. Then the Thompsons re-launched the business as Z Recyclers. The Thompson’s son Ted 54 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM
manages the steel sales, her brother Tim Zawicki runs heavy equipment, and her uncle works in the non-ferrous metals area. Z Recyclers boasts 18 employees and provides a wide variety of services for residential, industrial, and commercial clients locally and beyond its Whatcom borders in Skagit, Snohomish, and King Counties. The company maintains a public recycling center and dropoff center, and also offers scrap metal drop boxes for off-site collection. Their Facebook page states, “We pay for all metals, ferrous and non-ferrous such as tin, iron, sheet metal, stainless steel, copper, brass, lead, aluminum, and aluminum cans. We also bring drop boxes to you for large loads. Our scales are licensed and bonded. We sell new and used steel.” The Thompsons run their business based on a simple philosophy of offering exemplary customer service. Cris Thompson said that the combination of “honest and
fair scales and prices” and treating “every customer with dignity and respect” has been key to their longevity and growth. When the economic doldrums hit in 2008, the Thompsons reemphasized their customer service commitment and took what Cris Thompson called “baby steps” to proceed cautiously while minimizing risk. “The volume of recyclables was down (in 2012) compared to 2011,” she said. “But new steel sales were greater, as that part of business has grown.” According to Cris Thompson, the company successfully completed a set of eco-friendly improvements to their processing buildings and their truck and trailer storage areas. “We put up a coverall building on a full concrete foundation, housing the auto drain rack, which keeps all fluids from any ground contamination,” she explained. “And, we had a large roof built to cover all loaded semi-trailers.” As a priority, Z Recyclers supports the community in which they do business. Over the years they have supported the 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America, Lighthouse Mission, various youth groups and events, and Whatcom County schools. The company has also partnered with ReUse Works, a Bellinghambased nonprofit that promotes reuse of used appliances, and Z Recyclers has donated materials to be used by local artists in sculpture projects. As a family business, Cris Thompson said that they are bullish on the concept of this traditional business model. “We’d like to see more growth for the family businesses in our community in both business and farming.” She said that doing business in Whatcom County is a pleasure. “Having been born and raised here currently with five generations,” she said, “we love the people in our county.”