The owners of Northern Disposal & Sanitation are still basking in the glow of receiving the 2011 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by the Northern Ontario Business Awards. 

The family-run business is located in Katrine, Ontario, about 150 miles north of Toronto and offers septic pumping, septic system repair and maintenance, portable restroom rentals and waste disposal dumpsters. 

“Starting a new business is enough of a challenge,” says co-owner Katy Bailey. “Starting one when you’re younger presents additional challenges. I sometimes feel that I need to work twice as hard to convince a potential client that we have the expertise and ability to deliver what we promise.” 

Co-owner Dave McGregor says that the award has inspired the company to live up to the honor. 

“We have another 30 years of growth ahead of us,” he says. “Getting recognition for what we do early on is important to us, and confirms that we’re on the right track.” 

Check out a Q-and-A with Northern Disposal & Sanitation in the October print edition of Pumper.