Our Awards

Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation Award
National Philanthropy Day
November 15, 2017

Award presented to a corporation that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support and through encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles toward philanthropy and/or community involvement.  The following is an excerpt from the award presentation on November 15, 2017:

In the towns of Lewiston and Porter, and throughout Western New York, Modern Corporation and the Washuta Family name are synonymous with business excellence and community support.  The generosity of Modern and the Washutas has helped grow the Cardiac Care Program at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, helping positively impact care for more than 3,000 patients each year. 

Sadly, Mr. Steve Washuta passed in 2008 yet his dedication to the community has a lasting legacy.  Steve built his business into a diversified company that touches literally every household in the towns of Lewiston and Porter, among many others in the Niagara region.  In recent years, the company’s work and philanthropy has extended to the City of Buffalo and throughout the region. 

Modern’s slogan, Dedicated to the Community. Committed to the Environment, is exemplified by the deep community impact they make with key initiatives centered on the value of and need for recycling.  Modern promotes the benefits of recycling with extensive outreach to local schools, garden clubs and community events.  Their support to nearly 200 events each year is invaluable to many organizations in both Niagara and Erie counties.  In addition to generous monetary contributions, in-kind donations from Modern save nonprofits a few hundred thousand dollars each year.  Just a few of the charities benefitting from Modern’s support are Artpark, Buffalo PAL, Ronald McDonald House, Lewiston JazzFest, Ride for Roswell and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

This in-kind support helps keep costs low for nonprofit organizations, helping them maximize the fundraising potential of their events. Modern Disposal and the Washuta family step forward to support these organizations, and in turn, Western New Yorkers of all ages get to enjoy spirited community activities.


The Buffalo Chapter of the Building Operators and Managers Association (BOMA) honored Modern Disposal Services as the 2017 Outstanding Customer Service Vendor of the Year during their yearly awards recognition ceremony. This special honor was given to Account Manager Steve Hanaka in recognition of his dedication to the industry and for Modern’s efforts and success in providing fellow BOMA members with top customer service and sales experience throughout Western New York and Canada.


In 2015, Modern Corporation was recognized by the National Waste & Recycling Association for our outstanding commitment to safety as a recipient of their Circle Award.

In 2015, Modern Corporation received the Recycling Leadership Award for the Private Sector from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.


Modern Landfill INC.

Environmental Excellence Award

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In 2005, Modern Landfill received an Environmental Excellence Award from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its project that “developed a process to convert the gas generated by the landfill to electricity that powers the facility, supplies the power grid, and provides heat and light to the green house complex growing hydroponic tomatoes. The gas from Modern Landfill is used to generate 5.6 megawatts of electricity by Model City Energy that is sold back to the New York power grid. In addition, the heat generated in the process of burning the gas in Caterpillar internal combustion engines creates waste heat, which is also captured in another recovery process. This heat and a small fraction of the electricity generated are then used to heat and light an adjacent 7.5 acre hydroponic greenhouse complex, “H2Gro”, where vine-ripened tomatoes are grown and profitably marketed. The facility’s fugitive landfill gas emissions have been reduced by 85%.” – NYSDEC Pollution Prevention Evaluation Program, 36 Month Report, March 2009.


Modern Landfill INC. of Ontario

2015 Niagara Falls Chambers of Commerce Business Award

This Award was presented to Modern Landfill INC. of Ontario for achieving financial success, experiencing continuous growth, offering a dependable service and provides an outstanding workplace for its employees.