G&H Garbage
G&H Garbage Service – A Legacy of Hard Work and Community Commitment
December 2024 Business of the Month
This December, G&H Garbage Service, a family-run business with deep roots in Vernal and the Uintah Basin, is honored to be recognized as the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month. From humble beginnings to a thriving operation, G&H embodies the values of hard work, innovation, and a commitment to the community.
A Humble Start, Rooted in Ingenuity
G&H Garbage Service began in the 1960s as a modest side hustle for Jack Chivers, who was then working full-time at the Gilsonite mine in Bonanza. He acquired the tiny Neola-based business from his brother-in-law Garth and his partner Howard after they chose to focus on other endeavors. Jack never bothered changing the name from G&H, and often quipped that there was never a need, because the name was usually alphabetically first to be found in the yellow pages over local competitors. Why mess with a good thing?
On weekends, Jack and his family, along with a few friends, would make their rounds, emptying backyard burn barrels into the back of a one-ton pickup. Serving about 100 households in Vernal, this hands-on service became a staple for local residents.
Innovation was always at the heart of Jack’s efforts. Five years into the business, he and a coworker at the mine designed and built G&H’s first rear-load garbage truck. This ingenuity laid the foundation for the company’s expansion. By 1978, after winning the Vernal City contract bid, Jack invested in G&H’s first commercial garbage truck—a pivotal moment that propelled the business to new heights.
Growth and Generational Success
Since its incorporation in 1968, G&H Garbage Service has grown into a cornerstone of waste management in the Uintah Basin. Today, Jack and his wife Ileen’s legacy lives on through their family, including son Dave and grandsons Matt and Mark, who manage the company’s day-to-day operations.
What began with a single truck now includes a fleet of 11 route trucks, five roll-off trucks, two vac trucks, and two hydraulic flatbeds. Handling nearly a million pounds of garbage each month, G&H’s operation today hauls in a single day what it once collected in an entire year. The company has also expanded its services to include porta-potty rentals, self-storage, and industrial and oilfield waste management, ensuring its role as an essential service provider in the community.
A Passion for Ranching
G&H Garbage Service’s success cannot be separated from the family’s other passion, and perhaps the driving force behind it all—ranching. Alongside his dedication to G&H, Jack fostered a love of cattle ranching that endures within the family. What started with a few broken-mouthed sale barn cows in the backyard of their Maeser home has blossomed into Chivers Ranch, a thriving operation with 1,200 mother cows, 60 bulls, and 5,000 acres of deeded land stretching across Diamond Mountain, Vernal, and Jensen.
Community First
The Chivers family’s contributions to the Uintah Basin extend far beyond business. Their dedication to hard work, honesty, and family values has made them longstanding supporters of community initiatives. Whether serving in the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, donating services to local events, or volunteering in church and government roles, the Chivers family has consistently given back to the wonderful community that supports them.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Jack Chivers’ vision and Ileen’s steadfast support created more than a successful business—they established a legacy of resilience, ingenuity, and service. Their ability to see “the treasure in another man’s trash” has provided a strong future for their posterity and contributed to the strength of our local economy.
The Chivers family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to Vernal City and all of their supporters over the past 50 years.
The Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce Public Relations Committee is pleased to announce G&H Garbage is the December 2024 Business of the Month. Thank you for all you do for our community!
