Beyond the Bin with Samantha McCormick

Welcome to Beyond the Bin, our ongoing Q&A series introducing you to the people powering Rubicon’s mission to end waste. From customer success and operations to technology and sustainability, these are the experts working behind the scenes every day to help customers, partners, and haulers build smarter, more sustainable waste and recycling programs. 

In this edition, we sat down with Samantha McCormick, Key Account Director at Rubicon. Samantha has been with the Rubicon team for five years, starting as a Customer Service Associate, progressing to Customer Service Lead, and then moving into a Key Account Manager role, before becoming a Key Account Director. We talked with Samantha about her customer-focused role, some of the challenges she’s helped solve, what sustainability means to her, and why finding creative solutions is at the heart of what she does. 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do at Rubicon, and what does a typical day look like? 

Samantha: As a Key Account Director my role is very customer focused. On a daily basis, I work closely with my customer, which is one of the largest retailers in the world, to make sure their services are running smoothly, are on time, and are accurate across more than 5,000 U.S. locations. A big part of my role is finding ways to optimize their waste programs – whether that’s making sure compactors are being used efficiently to drive cost savings, ensuring open-top containers aren’t sitting on-site longer than necessary, or helping solve service challenges as they come up. 

Q: Give me one thing that excites you most about the work you do?  

Samantha: Finding solutions. A lot of times, the best solutions are outside the box. It’s about understanding the customer’s challenge, looking beyond what’s traditionally been done, and finding a way to make it work – even if it’s something outside the original scope. 

Q: Tell me about a project or accomplishment here at Rubicon you are especially proud of?  

Samantha: I actually have two. The first happened during my first week as an Account Manager. I received a call from my customer’s organics team saying they needed help with meat rendering services. I had no idea what meat rendering service was, so I dug in. I asked how many locations they needed support for, expecting it to be a small number. Instead, I received a list of 1100 locations. We had one week to find a solution, coordinate with haulers, and get everything in place. We were able to make it happen, and it was a great example of what Rubicon does best – bringing people together to solve complex problems. 

The second was supporting snow removal services during the recent winter. Snow removal is an emerging service area for Rubicon, and it wasn’t something we had traditionally promoted. But the customer needed help, so we said yes. I spent many late nights coordinating with teams, confirming locations, and making sure everything was covered. It wasn’t a typical waste and recycling project, but we found a solution and delivered it to the customer. 

Q: Sustainability means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?  

Samatha: When sustainability is done right, it means leaving behind a better Earth for future generations. I think about my nephews and the world they’ll inherit. The choices we make today can help create a cleaner, healthier planet for them tomorrow. 

Q: What’s one misconception people have about the waste, recycling, or sustainability industry?  

Samantha: A big misconception is that simply putting something in a recycling bin means you’re being sustainable. Recycling only works when materials are properly sorted and kept clean. Contamination is a huge challenge. For example, a customer may have a large bale of recyclable plastic ready to be processed, but if someone throws a leftover sandwich into that bale, the entire thing can become contaminated and no longer usable. People don’t always realize that sustainability is about what happens throughout the entire process – not just where you throw something away. 

Q: What is one sustainability habit you practice at home?  

Samantha: We separate everything and make sure food and other materials are properly sorted so we don’t create contamination. I also live in a city that recently considered reducing its recycling program, so I’ve been involved in signing petitions and advocating to keep recycling available. I’d rather pay a little more to support a program that helps create a better future. 

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give a customer (or potential customer) looking to improve their waste, recycling, or sustainability program?  

Samantha: Start with training and buy-in from your people. If you don’t take the time to train employees and help them understand why proper waste practices matter, the program won’t be successful. Education and engagement are where meaningful change starts. 

Q: Complete this sentence: “At Rubicon, we’re making a difference by…”  

Samantha: …. Solving problems. Full stop. We solve our customers’ problems.   

Lightning Round with Samantha:  

Coffee or tea? Iced Tea  

Early bird or night owl? Early bird  

Mountains or beaches? Mountains  

Dogs or cats? Dogs  

Sweet or salty? Both  

Text or phone call? Text  

Book or movie? Movie  

Whether you’re looking to improve operational efficiency, increase diversion, or advance your sustainability goals, the Rubicon team is here to help. Reach out to Samantha or any of our experts at  [email protected].