Countywide Disposal

“I’m a small-town farm boy who just happens to know a little about managing a business,” said Lee McClain, owner of Countywide Disposal based in Butler, Missouri.

McClain bought Countywide in 2020. The rural garbage business has since grown significantly. “We hit our seven-year goal of tripling the company and did this in three fast years,” he said.

Countywide provides garbage removal service for the majority of rural Bates County and is growing into neighboring Cass County and other areas, covering roughly 40 square miles. In addition to residential service, Countywide provides commercial service to businesses in the region, rents roll-off dumpsters, and provides on-call roll-off dumpster service.

“The communities we serve, especially Bates County, where our office is located, is like serving family,” McClain said. The community’s support, in turn, has been more than he and his wife and business partner Emily could have dreamed, he said.

That support has meant a lot to McClain, because he missed time with family in the process of growing a small business.

It was all possible “because of our incredible team and the good Lord driving us,” he said. “I’m beyond blessed and grateful for all of them.”

Giving back and being visible in his community is important to McClain. He has served on the board of the Butler Chamber of Commerce and as president of the local Rotary Club.

McClain aims to continue growing the business but also to spend more time with his wife and two young daughters.

“I am the third generation of business owners in Butler. Hopefully my kids will be the fourth. This community has been great to my family. We are truly grateful to call it home.”

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