Poole made the decision to start Waste Industries in Raleigh, North Carolina upon researching the need to develop a mobile landfill compactor in the American southeast region.

[2] The company continued to grow that year with an estimated 20 branches, 11 transfer stations, including 4 recycling facilities under its belt.

[6] Poole was the first in his family to go to college, receiving his bachelor’s degree in engineering from NC State in 1959 and his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1965.

[7] Lonnie Poole Jr. was named North Carolina Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc Magazine in 1992 and was inducted into the Environmental Industry Hall of Fame in 1994.

Past charitable recipients of the Full Circle Project include Habitat for Humanity, The Jimmy V. Foundation, HOPE Packs, Veteran's Life Center, SPCA of Wake County, Good Shepherd Center, Food on Foot, Delaware Warriors Helping Warriors, and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.