This Veterans Day, Federal Recycling proudly honors the men and women who have served our country—and the many veterans who continue to serve their communities and teams at our company.
One of those dedicated veterans is Tim Bain, a Commercial Driver at our Denver, Colorado plant. Tim is a U.S. Navy Veteran whose eight years of service taught him the importance of hard work, teamwork and accountability – values he carries with him every day while on the job.
Meet Tim Bain, U.S. Navy Veteran at Federal Recycling
Tim’s service journey originated from joining the Navy’s fire department. Stationed in Bremerton, Washington, Tim initially saw it as an opportunity to gain firefighting experience he could use later in his service. The training emphasized essential firefighting skills, providing Tim with a strong understanding of core safety practices and response techniques. But when an opportunity arose to switch into aviation ordinance, Tim embraced the new responsibilities and challenges the role offered.
“I was looking for something a little more hands-on,” Tim recalls. “I knew it would be different from what I was doing, and I was excited to switch things up.”
For two years, Tim oversaw the maintenance and servicing of weapons and ammunition on Navy aircraft, working diligently to ensure each piece of equipment was functioning properly. He then spent six years on inactive duty, standing by in case he was called back to serve.
Putting Navy Values to Work
After his time in the Navy, Tim began his 30-year truck driving career, spending the last two at Federal Recycling in Denver. Tim’s day-to-day responsibilities consist of transporting recycled materials to various destinations, performing pre- and post-trip safety inspections and ensuring his vehicle remains in top condition. Tim sees direct parallels between his Navy experience and his current role, especially in communication, problem-solving and teamwork.
“There’s this saying in the military – Assess, Adapt, Improvise; it taught me to focus first on finding the solution before complaining about the problem,” Tim says. “I’ve used this mindset when a customer overfills the truck trailer, and I can’t close the doors. I work with them to remove some of the material to ensure the load is secure before heading out.”
A Sense of Purpose at Federal Recycling
When asked about working at Federal Recycling, Tim had this to say:
“A lot of the veterans I know value having a sense of purpose—they’re loyal, committed and focused on what they do. Working at Federal Recycling is rewarding because you know at the end of the day, you’re making a real difference for the environment. It’s great to be in the recycling business because the materials we recycle can be turned into new products, which is a lot better than depleting our natural resources.”
Veterans Strengthen Our Team
Tim exemplifies the value of veterans to our team with how his discipline, diligence and commitment to teamwork make a real difference every day at Federal Recycling. We’re proud to have veteran colleagues like Tim and to recognize their contributions not just on Veterans Day, but every day.
To all who have served—thank you for your courage, dedication and the positive impact you continue to have on your communities and workplaces.
