Lewis County Scoop Business Spotlight with Chris Kleindienst – Cedar Ridge Disposal

When his own trash was not getting picked up, most people would have just gotten mad and switched trash companies.

Chris Kleindienst started one.

“My trash wasn’t getting picked up, so I got frustrated,” he said. “I kept calling and they kept telling me the trucks were broke down.”

A friend’s wife worked for that hauler at the time and confirmed what he already suspected. The equipment was not being maintained, and service was slipping. Kleindienst invited them over for supper one night, and the conversation turned into a plan.

That plan became Cedar Ridge Disposal. The same friend who once worked for the other company is now on his team.

Kleindienst is not new to small business. His family once owned The Hunting Corner in Monroe City and also sold Bad Boy mowers there. Later, they operated Bad Boy Mowers of Quincy in Quincy, Illinois. Those businesses have been sold, and his full attention is now on Cedar Ridge Disposal.

Cedar Ridge Disposal serves homes, farms, and businesses with several options. Residential customers can sign up for 96 gallon totes. For larger needs, the company offers 2, 4, 6, and 8 yard dumpsters, which are popular on farms and commercial properties. They also have 15 yard roll off containers for basement clean outs, garage clean ups, spring cleaning, and smaller remodel projects.

“We try to buy all of our equipment new,” Kleindienst said. That includes the black and silver carts and a fleet of newer trucks. The company runs 2023, 2024, and 2025 model units and uses smaller hopper style trucks when a quick, targeted pickup is needed.

Cedar Ridge covers Lewis County, Marion County, Ralls County, and other nearby areas, generally within about sixty miles of its base. Kleindienst said they have already run loads as far north as places like Kahoka and into areas west of there, and he would like to grow farther north and west over time.

What he believes sets Cedar Ridge apart from the big national waste companies is simple. You can reach a real person who knows where you live.

“With the bigger companies, you might be talking to somebody in Chicago or New York who has no idea where your county is,” he said. “When you call our number, you are talking to someone who at least knows what county you live in. Most of the time you are probably going to get me.”

Calls into the office go to Charity, the office manager. Kleindienst said he and Charity talk constantly about the day’s routes and customer needs. If bad weather or other issues cause someone to be missed, they work hard to make it right.

“We can send one of those smaller trucks out real quick and go pick up a couple houses and then come right back if we need to,” he said. “Sometimes if the weather sets us back, we will run on Saturday to get caught up. Most big companies are not going to do that.”

Ask him what his best customers would say about Cedar Ridge, and the answer comes quickly.

“Customer service,” he said. “That is our number one goal.”

Reviews on Facebook and Google reflect that. The company has earned a line of five star ratings. Kleindienst said people today are quick to say whether you are doing a good job, and he is proud of the feedback his team receives.

He is also proud of the team itself, from drivers to mechanics to office staff. “We have a great team and I am proud of all of them,” he said.

The thing he is proudest of so far is the overall growth story. Cedar Ridge started with no customers. Today it serves more than fifteen hundred and has added a transfer station in Honeywell, Missouri.

“I feel like that by itself is a pretty good story,” he said. “We are still writing it.”

The part customers never see, he added, is one of the hardest parts of the job. “Basically just keeping the trucks up and going on the road all the time,” he said. “Maintenance.”

Looking ahead, Kleindienst would like to add town contracts and serve more municipalities, not just rural routes.

“People in the rural area know how good we are,” he said. “I would like to show the people in the towns how good we are too.”

If he had thirty seconds to talk to every resident in Lewis County, his message would be straightforward.

“We take pride in our job. Our job is picking up trash,” he said. “Customer service is number one. If you hire us to do a job, we are going to do it. Your trash will be picked up at a reasonable rate. I look forward to serving more Lewis County customers.”

For anyone who needs service after reading this Business Spotlight, the process is simple. Call the main office at 573 501 5005. Charity will answer, ask whether you need residential or commercial service, and help decide whether a tote or a dumpster fits best.