Quest & Hendrick Automotive: A Partnership for the Planet
– Oct. 29, 2025 –
What happens when a passion for performance meets a dedication to the planet? You get a powerful partnership that redefines what it means to be a leader. We were thrilled to showcase this very collaboration on a recent episode of EARTH with John Holden, which aired on Bloomberg Television. The episode took a deep dive into our work with the legendary Hendrick Automotive Group, revealing how our shared commitment to sustainability is driving real change.
The segment opens not in a boardroom, but on the serene shores of Lake Norman in North Carolina. Host John Holden paints a picture of natural beauty, a stark contrast to the visuals of overflowing landfills and mismanaged waste materials that can threaten such environments. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s at stake and sets the stage for a story of responsibility.
The Challenge: Waste in a High-Performance World
Hendrick Automotive Group is a titan in the auto retail industry. As the largest privately held auto retail company in the U.S., their operations are massive. With nearly 100 dealerships servicing over 2.5 million vehicles last year alone, the scale of their environmental footprint is significant.
As Roger Mesiemore, VP of Fixed Operations at Hendrick Automotive Group, explains in the episode, “When we’re servicing vehicles, waste streams are produced, there’s no question about that.” He lists a wide array of materials: cardboard, plastic, motor oil, filters, antifreeze, and all sorts of products.
This is the complex reality for many large-scale businesses. The very activities that drive their success also generate waste that, if not managed properly, can harm the planet. For a company like Hendrick, built on a legacy of excellence and community values, finding a better way wasn’t just an option—it was an obligation.
Hendrick Automotive Group headquarters in Charlotte, NC
The Solution: A Partnership Built on Purpose
This is where Quest entered the picture. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to end waste in all its forms—wasted time, money, and resources. We partner with businesses to transform their waste streams from a liability into an asset, creating cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable operations.
Our collaboration with Hendrick Automotive Group is a perfect example of our client-aligned methodology in action. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we become an extension of their team, embedding ourselves in their operations to understand every facet of their waste generation.
As our EVP and COO, Dave Sweitzer, puts it, “It’s always about landfill diversion every single day… We’re trying to better the planet by coming up with different innovative ways to handle different materials to get it out of the landfill.” The episode shows our teams on the ground at Hendrick facilities, analyzing data, interacting with employees, and fine-tuning processes to maximize recycling and repurposing.
From Waste to Resource: The Power of Innovation
So, what does this partnership look like in practice? It’s a combination of advanced technology, data-driven strategy, and creative thinking. We track materials through their entire lifecycle, ensuring accountability and transparency from the service bay to their final destination.
“We’re able to literally capture and make sure that all the materials that we are saying are being recycled or diverted or reused are validated through the life cycle,” Dave explains. This meticulous tracking provides Hendrick with invaluable insights, empowering them to see the tangible results of their efforts.
The numbers speak for themselves. Last year, our partnership helped Hendrick Automotive Group recycle over 32 million pounds of waste. This incredible achievement prevented over 45,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The episode highlights some of the fascinating ways these materials are given a new life:
- Used Oil: Refined into new lubricant products or used to add durability to asphalt.
- Tires: Transformed into playground surfaces, rubber mulch, and materials for civil engineering projects.
- Oil Filters: The metal from these filters is 100% recyclable. Roger proudly notes, “We recycled enough metal from our used oil filters last year to construct up to four Statues of Liberty.”
More Than a Vendor, A True Partner
This story is about more than just recycling statistics; it’s about the power of a shared vision. Hendrick Automotive Group’s core value is a deep-seated care for people. Roger Mesiemore connects this directly to their environmental mission: “When you care about people, I think it’s automatic that you care about our planet because they go one and one hand in hand… And Quest has been a really good partner to help us maintain that core value.”
This sentiment is at the heart of what we do at Quest. We aren’t just a service provider. We are a fully objective partner, wholly aligned with our clients’ goals. Our CEO, Perry Moss, describes our broader mission: “We currently manage over 30,000 locations across the country. And we provide services for over 130 different waste streams in all 50 states, Canada and all the US territories.”
From automotive and transportation to retail, hospitality, and healthcare, we help large businesses navigate the complexities of waste and achieve their sustainability goals.
Watch the Story Unfold
The collaboration between Quest and Hendrick Automotive Group is a testament to what’s possible when industry leaders prioritize the planet. As John Holden concludes in the episode, “Managing waste is not just cleaning up what we no longer need. It’s about making a better planet for future generations… rewriting the story of waste one material at a time.”
We invite you to watch the full episode of EARTH with John Holden to see this powerful story for yourself. Witness the dedication of the teams and the incredible impact of a partnership driven by a shared purpose.
Curious about how Quest can help your business transform its waste solutions program and achieve its sustainability goals? Contact us today to learn more about our client-aligned solutions.
