Northeast Sanitation Blog

With Hurricane Irene fast approaching New England disaster relief agencies will be in need of portable sanitation supplies and equipment.
    
The staff at NSC Restrooms can assist with residential and commercial disaster relief and has experience in disaster relief management. We have provided 1000’s of portable toilets and portable sanitation services for Hurricanes Charlie, Jeanne, Dennis, Ivan, Ike and Katrina in Florida and along the Gulf Coast.

NSC is reaching out to the Red Cross, FEMA, YMCA’s, Hospitals, Power Companies, churches, shelters,  homeowners, and state and federal agencies to let them know that we can supply portable toilets, emergency water supplies, hand sanitizers and portable sinks, as well as portable shower trailers in areas of power loss and water loss.

Hopefully the hurricane that is approaching will be easy on New Englanders. However, in the event that homes or businesses are met with sanitation issues, keep in mind that NSC Restrooms can respond quickly to provide toilets to your family or facility. NSC Restrooms would also like to remind you of how important begin prepared for major storms can be.

With hundreds of portable toilets and mobile restrooms available, and a speedy response time, NSC can make even natural disasters less disastrous.

A few weeks ago Western Massachusetts was declared a major disaster area. Many people have had to evacuate their homes as a result of the tornadoes. NSC Restrooms delivered portable restrooms for MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) disaster relief efforts in Monson and Southbridge, MA.

As you are all well aware, the tornadoes that hit Worcester County had a devastating effect on many lives. Homes and businesses were lost and many people were injured. A few were killed.

Northeast Sanitation is available for relief efforts and can respond quickly to provide portable toilets to your family or facility. If you have any question or concerns you can visit the FEMA disaster relief site http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm. But know that NSC Restrooms can make you comfortable by providing temporary restroom facilities.  

How Irish Dancing Got Started through the use of Portable Toilets.

by Ken Wysocky

Prompt service, sharp-dressed technicians and keeping promises to customers is the success formula for upstart Massachusetts company Northeast Sanitation Corp.

Back in February 2006, a semi-retired Brian McNamara heard opportunity knocking and wasted no time answering the door — and stepping smack dab into another full-time career. Within five months, Northeast Sanitation Corp. in Sudbury, Mass., morphed from nothing more than an idea into a full-service portable restroom outfit.

Since then, NSC has enjoyed considerable growth, aided by the acquisition of two more portable sanitation businesses. And the decisive McNamara says he expects further expansion and revenue growth.

The key to the company’s quick success? Great employees and a simple but effective business philosophy: Do what you say you’re going to do.

“We don’t mess around,” McNamara says when asked how he took a company from concept to corporation in just five months. “I thought I saw a good opportunity in the marketplace, and so far, it’s proven to be just that.

“Our motto is, ‘The difference is in the details,’ ” he continues. “Whether it’s delivery, service or professionalism, it’s all about how you treat people … that’s what forges relationships. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you can’t, don’t be in business.”

MAN WITH A PLAN

McNamara spent most of his career in heavy civil construction and residential development. Working in New England, where the construction season is short and lousy weather is a fact of life, taught him how to make things happen fast. He eventually went into semi-retirement as a real estate developer. But while building a home in early 2006, a brush with unresponsive portable restroom service spurred his second career.

“They never came when they said they would,” McNamara recalls. “I’d have to call them three or four times to get service. So I started thinking that if they have this much market share and provide this level of service, there’s definitely a niche to be exploited.”

McNamara started by doing research on the Internet to determine the level of competition. Then he learned about the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International —which by chance was being held the following weekend.

“I went to the show, which was a great experience,” he says. “I found out about all the players in the industry, and ended up ordering 120 restrooms.”

By March, NSC was incorporated. And by July, the company was up and running. Growth occurred quickly, thanks to McNamara’s widespread network of construction industry contacts.

Revenues quickly grew. “We’re probably four times bigger now than the year we started,” he says. McNamara says a fundamentally sound business plan was critical to the company’s fast growth. That included forecasting sales revenue and net-profit goals, and asking friends and business associates to “shoot holes” in his business premises.

“I’d recommend that anyone start with a sound business plan,” he notes. “You can’t run blind. You’ve got to have forecasts, then be sure you hit the numbers. It’s not easy, but if you stay focused on your plan — which is your road map to success — you’ll succeed.”

Currently, construction-related rentals generate about 75 percent of the company’s sales revenue; the remaining 25 percent comes from special events. McNamara says his business plan calls for a 70/30 split after five years, so the business is on track. “We have to rely mostly on construction because in this area, there are only so many special events,” he says.

Can I rent a portable restroom for just one day?
Absolutely. Our special event restroom trailers and individual units can be rented by the day or for weekend rentals. We also rent units monthly.

Will the portable restroom be clean for my event?
Yes they will. NSC Restrooms take pride in the condition of our portable restrooms.

Where will you place my portable toilet?
We will place them per your instruction, however, we may have to relocate them for servicing and will make suggestions to you to ensure your guests/employees and our service people can safely access the restroom.

How far in advance do I need to reserve a portable toilet?
During peak times, we can possibly sell out, so as much lead time as you can give us. But as a minimum, we would like to have 48 hours notice and we can have your restroom delivered. For large special events or large construction projects, a week or more lead time is appreciated and advisable.

Where does the waste go after it has been pumped?
The waste water is taken to local waste water facilities and disposed of according to the regulations required by the facilities.

Am I required to have porta potties on my job site?
Most town and city ordinances spell out the requirements for portable restrooms on a job site. Town Inspectors will often require that the portable toilet is either ordered or has arrived on the site before approving the inspection.

What is the frequency of service on my portable toilet?
We service our portable restrooms once a week in order to keep them safe, clean, sanitized and stocked with supplies. If needed, we can supply service more often.

Does a portable restroom on my construction job site really cut down on expenses and time?
By supplying a portable restroom on your job site you cut down on the amount of time your employees are searching for and traveling to an alternate facility.

The following chart has been supplied by PSAI (portable sanitation association international). The annual cost of 10 minutes of wasted toilet time per employee, per day:

Hourly Rate	5 Employees	10 Employees
$7.00	$1,487.50	$2,975.00
$8.00	$1,670.00	$3,400.00
$10.00	$2,125.00	$4,250.00
$13.00	$2,762.50	$5,525.00
$15.00	$3,187.50	$6,375.00

 

Hopefully, the recent news report of the collapse of the stadium dome where the Minnesota Vikings play will not be a sign of more disastrous things to come this winter. With the official start of winter a week away the collapse of the stadium roof reminds us how important being prepared for major storms can be. NSC Restrooms is located in beautiful Massachusetts and our neighbors in the Midwest know all too well just how quickly a small storm can escalate to hazardous conditions. The best we can do is take steps ahead of time to be ready at home, at work, and on the road. By now most of us should know the check list by heart. Did we change the batteries in the fire/smoke alarms? Do we have flash lights and candles and are the batteries for the house or car flashlights good? These are the things we can control. What about those we cannot?

Hopefully the snow that is surely on its way this winter will not bring down our roofs or freeze our pipes. However, in the event that we are met with our own natural disaster, keep in mind that NSC Restrooms can respond quickly to provide toilets to your family or facility. There is nothing worse than frozen pipes in your home or work, but if you are faced with this scenario this winter, keep NSC Restrooms in mind. With hundreds of portable toilets and restroom trailers available, and a speedy response time, NSC can make even natural disasters less disastrous.

There is so much road construction and bridge work being done these days in Massachusetts. NSC Restrooms is providing the portable restrooms for the road workers in many cities and towns around Boston. By having the portable restrooms in the construction zones on the roadways, the safety of the highway department employees is that much more ensured. NSC has been invited to be the provider of these portable toilets because of the safe way in which they transport, install and maintain their porta potties. With this in mind, NSC restrooms would like to remind you to drive safely on the roadways while winter driving, and especially in areas of road and bridge construction.

Black Friday is the traditional “kick off” for the holiday shopping season. Not only is the holiday season fast approaching so is winter and the inclement weather. Snow, sleet, and icy conditions will add to an already hectic time of year for many. Combine long work hours, fewer daylight hours, add a snow storm, and you have the ingredients for increased stress and poor judgment in some cases when driving.
Please, remember to drive safely and consider the following when out and about this shopping season.

• Never tailgate a commercial vehicle. You must be able to see both side mirrors of all commercial vehicles, this ensure that the driver can see you.
• In stop and go traffic, commercial vehicles leave space between the vehicles in front of them. This space helps to compensate for the added weight with which these vehicles operate. Compared to the average automobile, large commercial vehicles require a significant amount of distance to stop. Resist the urge to cut in front of these rigs and especially in poor road conditions.
• And lastly, please obey the reduced speed limits in road construction zones. Remember all these road and bridge workers have families who want them home for the holidays.

President Obama declared Massachusetts a major disaster area yesterday. Many people have had to evacuate their homes due to flood waters. If you were one of them, be sure to not return to your home before it is deemed safe by local officials. Once you arrive home there are certain things you should not do. Of course, look around at your roof and  foundation. If there is anything that concerns you, call in an expert. Smell for gas, and watch for slippery floors and loose floor boards. An of course, check with local officials before using your water, which could be contaminated. Be sure your septic lines are not broken or leaking and do not flush toilets until you know your septic system is okay and your sewage lines are okay.

Many people are experiencing backed up sewage systems at their homes or offices. This is caused, in part, by too much groundwater. There are other causes of course; however, generally speaking, the leech fields are too saturated to take in anymore sewage water.

Northeast Sanitation is available for relief efforts and can respond quickly to provide toilets to your family or facility. If you have any question or concerns you can visit the FEMA disaster relief site http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm . But know that NSC can get you back in your home by providing temporary facilities.