From the Curb Up: The Story of Captain Curby

Lansing, Michigan isn’t just your average, quiet Midwest town. Most people know it as the capital of the state, and it’s the birthplace of NBA legend Magic Johnson. But for those who live there, it’s also home to a company that’s been faithfully serving the community for decades: Granger Waste Services.

Granger has never just been about collecting garbage. It’s always been about living by the Golden Rule – treat others the way you want to be treated – and keeping communities clean.

Humble Beginnings

Granger wasn’t always in the waste management business. The company was founded in the late 1950s by three Granger brothers as a construction business. In 1966, while doing work for Michigan State University, one of the brothers, Ron Granger, wanted to send construction debris down a chute and into a container. Their waste hauler thought it would ruin the container, so Ron went out and bought his own truck and container and started hauling the trash himself.

Granger began offering waste collection services to other construction companies. It didn’t take long for this new service to take off and eventually move into collecting garbage for other businesses and residential neighborhoods.

Granger’s first front-load truck, allowing them to begin servicing residential areas in Michigan.

Rolling Into Something New

By the early 1980s, Granger was a major player in the Lansing area, servicing a large portion of mid-Michigan. As the company grew, so did the need for a better way to manage waste.

At the time, trash was typically left in bags along the curb, or in small, stationary cans. While it got the job done, it wasn’t the most efficient or consistent system. Collection could be messy, and there wasn’t a strong pattern from one house to the next. Granger saw an opportunity to improve the process.

In 1983, they became the first company in Lansing to roll out carts with wheels and hinged lids. The new system made waste collection cleaner, more efficient, and easier for both residents and drivers.

Like any new system, it required people to change their habits—and that’s never easy. Granger now had a new challenge on their hands: how do you get people to embrace a new way of disposing of trash?

One of the original curby carts that Granger issued, making cleaning up easier than ever.

Putting a Face to the Cart

Instead of just sending out pictures of the new cart with a price tag, Granger decided the best way to market the new cart was with a character. Captain Curby gave the cart a face with a smile and a personality. They displayed him on all sorts of marketing materials and on the side of their trash trucks. The original drawings grabbed people’s attention and made trash collection — something purely practical — feel approachable and fun. After a while, Curby had earned his place.

The original Curby illustration was great for physical promotional material such as mailers, flyers, and mobile billboards (trash trucks). But becoming a real-life mascot would bring Curby’s impact to another level. Nothing makes an actual lasting impression like a mascot would! So, Granger reached out to us here at Olympus Group and once Granger got their hands on the mascot version of Curby, he started making appearances at parades, schools, and all sorts of community events. For example, he frequented Lansing Lugnuts games, the local minor league baseball team. He was sure to be found at 5Ks, cheering on participants. And while Curby might love a ball game in June or a crisp, spring run, it’s not the only reason he goes – he goes because, like Granger, he cares about his community.

More Than A Mascot

Granger has always had an eye for opportunity. Instead of using Curby as just a marketing tool for their company, they leverage him as an educational asset across mid-Michigan. One of his missions is to keep people in the loop on good waste practices, from recycling to proper disposal to reducing carbon impact. When he visits a school, students receive much more than just a picture. They take home new knowledge on what it means to properly dispose of trash and recycling, something that could stick with them for the rest of their lives. While Curby himself doesn’t speak, he captures kids’ attention and opens the door for the Granger associates accompanying him to help make his message clear.

Connecting with employees at Granger is one of the most important ways Curby follows the Golden Rule.

Curby at a visit to a local library, making sure the kids there make more than just memories, but gain a learning experience.

Everywhere Curby goes, he makes connections on behalf of Granger to build the brand in a human way. Curby turns everyday service into something people recognize, trust, and remember.

These Carts, They Are A-Changin’

Over the years, the Curby mascot costume has had a couple makeovers: he was brought back to us here at Olympus in 2009 and again in 2026. We find their brand and mission to support a clean and welcoming community admirable. We even had a personal connection: our sales manager Mikaela used to work with Curby at Lugnuts games!

The 2009 redesign made Curby a little less bulky and match the company’s newer, streamlined carts. And the 2026 redesign gave Curby a refreshed look while keeping the same distinguishable, lovable features.

Our sales manager, Mikaela, was well acquainted with Curby from her time spent with the Lansing Lugnuts.

The 2026 redesign, however, wasn’t just to freshen his look; Granger’s marketing team used it as an opportunity for engagement. Once Curby completed the 2025 Christmas parade season, he quietly stepped out of the spotlight. After a couple of months with no appearances, the Marketing team announced that Curby was “missing” and asked associates and the community to help “find” the elusive mascot. Granger posted pictures of Curby “sightings” on social media and even created a web page for updates. There were pictures and descriptions, and even newscasts as they tracked him down. Local businesses got in on it, and there was a great reveal video at the end. We’re glad Curby is safe and sound, and more beloved than ever before!

Rolling On

What began as a simple solution has grown into something much bigger. Curby isn’t just a mascot for Granger. He’s a teacher, a friend, and a beloved community member in Lansing. He keeps neighborhoods clean and informed.

From classrooms to races, baseball games, and office parties, Curby makes lasting connections and memories everywhere he goes. Each visit reminds people why they trust and appreciate Granger, and why they’re really the heroes of this story.

Almost thirty years since jumping from the page, Curby is still helping Granger spread pride and information to communities in Michigan.

A big thank you to Laurie and Andrea from Granger, who were generous with their time and stories, helping bring Curby’s history and impact to life.

As the resident experts on one of Michigan’s favorite mascots, we asked Laure and Andrea if they had advice for mascots. Here’s what they had to share:

Key Takeaways:

Tip 1

Plan Ahead: There’s a lot that goes into creating a mascot—whether it’s your first or a redesign. Think about how it will be used, where it will show up, and how long you want it to last. Taking the time to plan ahead makes a big difference.

Tip 2

Flexibility: Having an open mind and strong communication is key to creating the right mascot. The best ideas don’t always come all at once, so be willing to adjust along the way. Trust the process, lean on the experts, and you might end up with something even better than what you originally envisioned.

Tip 3

Make It a Moment: Mascots don’t get redesigned often, so when they do, don’t treat it like a routine tune-up. Turn it into something people can rally around. From internal celebrations to community events, it’s your chance to create energy, build pride, and make a lasting impression.