For over 25 years, Community Waste Disposal (CWD) has done more than just haul trash for the residents of Little Elm—they’ve hauled in a legacy of sustainability, education, and true community partnership. Since beginning service in July 1998, when Little Elm had just 800 homes, CWD has supported the town’s explosive 1,900% growth with innovative, environmentally responsible waste and recycling solutions.
CWD’s growth story is just as impressive. Launched in 1984 by CEO Greg Roemer with only two trucks and two employees, CWD has become the largest locally owned and operated solid waste hauler in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Today, it operates a fleet of more than 150 trucks and employs over 300 people, providing service to 37 municipalities. Recognized as #23 on Waste360’s Top 40 Waste and Recycling Firms and among the top 10 private companies nationally, CWD prides itself on its straightforward formula for success: the right people and the right equipment.
In Little Elm, residents benefit from weekly trash and recycling collection using 95-gallon carts, plus bi-monthly bulk and brush pickup—all performed using clean-burning Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks that reduce noise and improve air quality.
But CWD is more than a service provider. According to Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious, “Our partnership with Community Waste Disposal has been instrumental in keeping Little Elm clean, safe, and sustainable. Their commitment to reliable service and environmental responsibility reflects the values of our commUNITY.”
That community-first mindset extends beyond curbside pickups. CWD has partnered with organizations like the Little Elm Chamber of Commerce, Little Elm Rotary Club, and the Little Elm Education Foundation to implement eco-friendly practices at public events. Their efforts have helped the town win numerous awards, including two Keep Texas Beautiful Governor’s Community Achievement Awards—each worth $250,000—and the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association’s Small Program Excellence Award in 2021.
One of CWD’s most inspiring partnerships is with Saint Arbors Community Garden, supported by the STAR Community Development Corporation. Located in the heart of Little Elm, this six-acre garden is more than a source of fresh produce—it’s a source of hope, education, and community building.
The STAR CDC, which stands for “Saint Arbors Rebuilding,” aims to fulfill unmet community needs by offering services that promote wellness, stability, and opportunity. The garden plays a key role in this mission, offering hands-on education in sustainable gardening to Little Elm residents, especially youth and students from Little Elm ISD.
Michel Hambrick, a 13-year Little Elm resident and recent recipient of Keep Texas Beautiful’s OP Schnable Volunteer of the Year Award, is at the heart of this effort. Each Saturday morning, she leads volunteers—many of them young students—through the garden, teaching them about soil health, environmental responsibility, and the reality that fruits and vegetables come from the earth, not a grocery store.
Under her guidance and with support from CWD, over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to local food banks. The ripple effects of these efforts are profound: healthier families, educated youth, and a community united in purpose.
Hambrick sums it up best: “We’re not just teaching gardening. We’re teaching life skills, responsibility, and the importance of preserving our natural resources.”
Through the partnership of CWD and the STAR CDC, Little Elm is turning waste into wisdom and gardens into gateways of opportunity—proving that when a community invests in people and the planet, everyone wins.
We’re not just teaching gardening. We’re teaching life skills.