Talking Trash: Fed Up With Haulers, Folks Plead For PurpleTrash Return

GUILFORD, CT — The actual business is Branford-based, but its mission is to serve the people of Guilford and Madison. Owned by civically-involved and well-known Guilford residents Paul and Tara Santabarbara, PurpleTrash is a family-operated refuse and recycling company.

"Our mission is quite simple, to provide great service at a competitive price," its tag line reads.

In a phone interview with Patch Wednesday, operations manager Sal Squailia said that the company had previously been in the residential trash and recycling pick-up business —it's a Dumpster rental and fuel business, too — and has now returned to doing that after hearing from folks.

Squailia said that people have "begged" for the company to re-start pickups. He said folks have been unhappy with their haulers and among those complaints is how some, he said, mix recyclables with garbage. He said people go through the conscientious effort of washing, sorting recyclables only to see them mixed in with regular garbage.

"A lot of people haven't been happy people and were begging us to get back into trash," he said. "So we're trying it again."

The company has "professional, reliable drivers," small 4x4 "driveway-friendly" trucks, weekly recycling, text/email pickup day reminders and even discounts on heating oil and Dumpster rentals.

Plus, it's purple!

Physically located at 57 East Industrial Road in Branford, the contact number is (203) 457-5950 and its email is info@purpletrash.com. And check out its Facebook page, too.