IWS Vice President Josh Haraf named one of Waste360's 40 Under 40
The list honours rising leaders in the waste, recycling, and organics industries
Josh Haraf, the market vice president of New York City with Interstate Waste Services, has been named to Waste360's 2025 40 Under 40 Awards list. The honour celebrates young leaders who are driving innovation and shaping the future of the waste, recycling, and organics industry.
Josh Haraf's career as a waste industry leader
Haraf began his career in the waste industry at a young age, learning from his father, who dedicated himself to service within the same industry. Over the past 14 years, he has embraced a broad range of roles, including transfer station laborer, operations manager, and sales director, culminating in his current role as market area vice president of New York City. Years of experience working with industry mentors have provided Josh with expertise grounded in legacy knowledge, while inspiring a commitment to continuous improvement.
Additionally, Haraf's broad experience has equipped him to guide IWS, through its subsidiary Action Carting, as it helps businesses transition to New York City's Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) program. He leads a team of over 400 employees, providing essential services to more than 13,000 customers in one of the world's most challenging markets. With safety as his top priority, he is steering operational infrastructure to accommodate IWS/Action's growth, maintaining compliance with several new NYC regulatory requirements, and educating employees and customers on the CWZ program's real-world impact.
The Waste360 40 Under 40 list
The Waste360 40 Under 40 program honours professionals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the waste industry. The 2025 honourees were selected by a panel of industry experts and recognized at an awards ceremony yesterday, at WasteExpo, North America's premier event for waste management, recycling, and sustainability professionals.
"I am honoured to be recognized among such a talented group of industry leaders," said Haraf. "I'm also grateful to IWS for the opportunity to lead a dedicated team that is focused on helping our customers navigate a once-in-a-generation transformation in New York City's waste management system. We will continue to deliver tailored solutions that help all our customers — old and new, large and small — adapt efficiently and thrive in this new landscape."
"The IWS family is proud to see Josh receive this well-earned recognition," said Michael DiBella, chief executive officer of Interstate Waste Services. "Josh's leadership, expertise, and dedication to service excellence make him an invaluable asset to our company and the customers and communities we serve."
