In an industry increasingly dominated by national corporations, DeLisa Waste Services stands out as a multigenerational, locally owned company still operating where its roots began along the Jersey Shore.
Today, the business is led by CEO Thomas DeLisa II, continuing a family legacy in waste services that stretches back nearly a century. From municipal contracts to container operations and recycling services, the company has evolved through ownership shifts, redevelopment cycles and economic swings—while maintaining its local identity.
“Our family has been in the garbage business close to 100 years between my father and my uncles,” DeLisa says. “Long Branch and the Shore towns were some of the earliest and biggest contracts.”
Early operations covered multiple coastal communities, including Long Branch, Ocean Township and neighboring municipalities. The family also operated a landfill on the property where Monmouth Square Mall now stands—a testament to how closely the company’s history aligns with regional growth.
After graduating from Red Bank Catholic in 1975, DeLisa entered the family business, working alongside his father. Over time, operations expanded, strengthening municipal relationships throughout Monmouth County.
“My father was an excellent teacher,” DeLisa recalls. “He was very hard on me—but he knew the business and he worked extremely hard.”
By the late 1990s, the company had grown enough to attract national buyers. In 1999, the family sold to Republic Services, one of the country’s largest waste firms, including a five-year noncompete that temporarily kept DeLisa out of the sector.
Rather than step away entirely, he launched DeLisa Demolition Inc., handling teardown and site-clearing projects across Monmouth and Ocean counties.
“We were tearing down houses and buildings throughout the area, especially on the north end of Long Branch,” he says. That period coincided with significant redevelopment along the waterfront, where older structures made way for new residential and mixed-use construction.
When the noncompete ended in 2004, DeLisa returned to waste and recycling, rebuilding operations independently. One of the first milestones was securing back a key municipal contract in Sea Bright, followed by additional towns and expanded container services.
Today, DeLisa Waste Services holds 11 municipal contracts and offers front-end loader service for restaurants, bars, apartments and commercial properties, along with roll-off containers and sidearm collection services. Municipal work remains the backbone, with contracts typically running three years, often renewed to five.
“As long as we’re doing a good job, towns renew,” DeLisa says. “We’ve never had a town not renew through the full term.”
The company’s local focus sets it apart from national providers. Instead of centralized call centers, customer communication is handled on-site—often by long-tenured staff and family leadership. DeLisa’s two sons and daughter manage day-to-day operations alongside senior managers.
“My oldest son, Thomas DeLisa III, along with his brother and sister, are running the business with our team,” he says. “Having trusted people around you is what makes growth possible.”
That depth of leadership proved critical through economic downturns and the pandemic, when service logistics and staffing stability were essential for municipalities and commercial accounts.
Over the years, the family has declined multiple acquisition offers, choosing to remain independent. “The DeLisa name has been tied to waste services along the Shore for generations,” DeLisa says. “Maintaining that presence carries significance beyond balance sheets.”
Looking ahead, the company remains focused on steady expansion, contract performance and responsive service—not rapid consolidation.
“We keep growing, keep serving towns well and keep relationships strong,” DeLisa says. “That’s what keeps you here long-term.”
DeLisa Waste Services
Website: delisawasteservices.com
Address: 101 Commerce Dr., Tinton Falls, NJ 07753
Phone: (732) 988-2525
“We keep growing, keep serving towns well and keep relationships strong. That’s what keeps you here long-term.” - Thomas DeLisa II