Sonya Fritzinger, owner of Kermit’s Disposal, is a pioneering woman in the waste disposal industry
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Men and women in Western democracies commonly work side-by-side in both the public and private sectors. Nevertheless, there are a few industries where one gender is far more prevalent than the other.
One example is waste disposal. The vast majority of jobs in this labour-intensive industry, including workers, management and ownership, have been filled by men. While there are women in this profession, their numbers are few and far between.
Sonya Fritzinger is a rare exception to this rule. She owns and operates Kermit’s Disposal, a tight-knit, family-run business in Minnesota. She runs the company with her husband, Brent – and is often helped out by her children, Izzy and Logan.
How did I learn about Sonya and her waste disposal company? Purely by chance.
Earlier this summer, I was emailed an invoice by Kermit’s Disposal. I’d never heard of or done business with this company. My initial concern was that it may be linked to the long-standing scam where fraudsters attempt to get people to pay for goods and services they never purchased. I, like others, receive these fake invoices occasionally and delete them.
 Sonya Fritzinger, proud owner of Kermit’s Disposal, with her husband Brent and two children, Logan and Izzy. |
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This invoice was different: there was no balance due. Since my last name is more common in the U.S., and I’d previously received a legitimate invoice intended for a different Michael Taube, I determined it had been sent to me in error.
I contacted Kermit’s Disposal so they could adjust their financial records. In doing so, several additional things on its website intrigued me.
Kermit’s Disposal was started by Kermit Lindgren in 1998 “with a truck and a few dumpsters.” He expanded the business in 2005 while working with his son, Eric. This led him to purchase a company that employed Sonya as a driver. She, in turn, became a trusted employee and vital part of its success. When Lindgren retired in 2017, the Fritzingers bought the business.
Their waste disposal company is located in Forest Lake, Minnesota. That’s a small city in Washington County with 20,611 residents (according to the 2020 U.S. census). It’s also part of Minnesota’s 8th congressional district. For political buffs, this is one of only three congressional seats that flipped to the Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections. It’s currently represented by Pete Stauber, a retired 23-year police officer and former pro hockey player.
What also caught my eye was Kermit’s Disposal’s description of itself as “the only woman-owned and operated disposal company in the north metro.” Indeed, there aren’t many female owners in this industry. A cursory examination only identified a few examples, including Katherine Fairbanks’s DirtyGirl Disposal in Millbury, Massachusetts and Karen Coley’s SBC Waste Solutions in Broadview, Illinois. “We are proud to also be a woman-owned business in the construction field, where women are typically under-represented,” Kermit’s Disposal noted. “Not only do we strive to stand out amongst our competitors, we also hope to inspire other women to pursue careers in the construction field.”
This sounded like a fascinating story for a wider audience. When Sonya responded to my email about the stray invoice, she readily agreed. This pleasant, intelligent and hard-working wife, mother and trail-blazing business owner in a male-dominated industry has plenty of life experience and insights to share with others.
“Kermit’s Disposal is a roll-off dumpster company,” Sonya wrote in our recent interview conducted by email. “We are the giant dumpsters you see on construction sites. This is what most of our work is. We are open to the public and anyone can rent them … We go all over the place too! Our typical service is from as far north as North Branch, Minnesota, to as far south as Burnsville, Minnesota, as far west as a few miles into Wisconsin, and as far east as Hopkins, Minnesota.”
How has she enjoyed building this business with her husband and children?
“Working with your family is not for the weak!,” she admitted, “but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Sonya described Brent as “my biggest supporter in my life. He has always had faith in my success even when I didn’t. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work with my best friend everyday” She also enjoys “showing our kids that you can do anything you put your mind to. We can see those hard work ethics shining through in both of them. They are not afraid to jump in and get their hands dirty. And when I need help, they are the first ones I go to.”
Izzy, whom she lovingly describes as her “mini-me,” helped her out after she had back surgery this summer. She recently “chose to take an accounting class in school this year, as she wants to own her own business someday too.” In contrast, Logan “loves driving, he races side by sides, and as of right now, wants to take over the family business.”
I asked Sonya about her biggest success as a woman-owned and operated disposal company. “I think it is taking the stigma out of women being in the business. Back a million years ago, when I was starting out, people would basically stop what they were doing and watch me do my job in shock and disbelief, just because I was a girl. When people would call for a dumpster, they would automatically say, ‘when HE delivers it.’ assuming it would be a guy. I would correct them by saying, ‘Actually, I will be the one delivering it.’ This has come to almost a complete halt. I rarely have any of this happen anymore.”
Finally, what suggestions did she have for women considering working or owning a business in construction and waste disposal?
“In all my years of being in a man’s world of construction,” Sonya wrote, “how I made it through was to find the good old boys. The kind that looks at you based on the work you do and not what gender you are and stick with them. I never wanted anything extra because I was a girl. I wanted to make my name and reputation on my quality of work.”
“Did I push harder because I was a girl in a man’s world? Absolutely!,” she continued. “But I truly hope that the women to come don’t have to. And I do think it has come a long way from when I started. I don’t think I paved the way by any means, but I hope I have inspired some woman at some point. Whenever I see a new female driver at the dump, I make sure to go introduce myself and offer any tips and tricks I can. I love seeing more women in this line of work!”
It was a complete fluke that I ever met Sonya. I’m glad that it happened. She’s a true inspiration and model for women who want to work and own businesses in non-traditional industries. With her family and community firmly behind her, let’s hope she enjoys personal and financial success for many years to come.
Michael Taube is a political commentator, Troy Media syndicated columnist and former speechwriter for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He holds a master’s degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics, lending academic rigour to his political insights.
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That’s my daughter 😊