Paul Berry

Paul lives in Gustavus and works part-time for Zender Environmental. Paul worked as the Gustavus Landfill Operator from 1994 until his retirement in 2023. When Paul started working at the Gustavus Landfill the community practiced open burning and the recycling program consisted of a glass bottle buster and open cribs for the shipment of aluminum cans. During his time as the operator Paul helped the facility transition away from open burning to operating a balefill and the recycling program was expanded to include the baling and recycling of all metals, including white goods and refrigerators. Glass bottles are now pulverized and used on the facility’s driveway, there is plastics recycling, paper products recycling, e-waste recycling, a biennial HHW program, a food waste composting program and the integration of the community’s thrift store into the recycling operation. With humor and dedication, Paul has approached solid waste management as something positive for his community and is inspired in his work with Zender to spread this to other landfill operators around the state. Paul’s hobbies include local government (including one term as Gustavus’s Mayor), bicycling, reading Wikipedia, and listening to and composing electronic music.