David Duong is the founder and owner of California Waste Solutions (CWS) in California and Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) in Vietnam. A successful businessman, David has fulfilled his American dream by building a sustainable recycling business in California and investing in the homeland of his father and mother. Both companies offer environmental services and recycling, specializing in waste management, material recovery, sustainability solutions, and large-scale recycling operations. These operations serve hundreds of thousands of households in the Bay Area and millions of residents in Vietnam, positioning CWS and Vietnam Waste Solutions as central pillars in modern sustainability and cross-border environmental innovation.

Known as The King of Trash, just as his father was known in Vietnam, David carries the moniker with pride. The title takes on new meaning in the documentary The King of Trash, where David Duong’s journey from refugee to sustainability leader becomes a powerful narrative about resilience, environmental responsibility, and multigenerational legacy.

The King of Trash documentary highlights the family’s journey as a human story of resilience, immigration, contribution, and the important work of recycling. It also reflects the real environmental progress of green technology and long-term partnerships, with a focus on public service on a truly international scale.

Now, in the documentary The King of Trash, David and his family share their story of surviving the fall of Saigon and their journey to America, where they rebuilt their lives by scavenging for recyclables in others’ trash, eventually finding success when David founded his own business. The film illustrates how California Waste Solutions (CWS) grew from eight used trucks into one of the most respected family-owned recycling companies in the United States. The first business, CoGiDo, before CWS began with one truck and $700.

“We found the treasure in garbage bags and turned those into gold,” David says.

Dignity From Effort, Not Circumstances

When Saigon fell, the Duong family lost everything, including Jim Duong’s paper recycling business. The family escaped Vietnam by boat and arrived in San Francisco, California, where they settled into a small apartment and searched for recyclables at night for money. These early struggles, echoed in the documentary, highlight how immigrant families often begin their American journey in unseen and physically demanding roles within the recycling industry.

Eventually, Jim would start another business that he later sold in the late 80s. It was David who took up the family mantle and founded California Waste Solutions, which services hundreds of thousands of customers today in Oakland and San Jose, helping shape the region’s waste management and environmental services infrastructure. The success that David’s company achieved was not without challenges. Some people were skeptical of his work and biased against him because he was an immigrant to the country. David had faced difficulties before, when his family set out for the United States with USD 700 and an old truck. That modest beginning eventually grew into operations processing roughly 1,000 tons per week in Oakland and up to 1,300 tons per week in San Jose.

“You have to go step by step. If you do that, the future will open,” David says. This step-by-step philosophy underlies both CWS and Vietnam Waste Solutions and reflects the multigenerational mindset that sustains the family’s enterprises today.

David also took to heart his father’s advice that there is honor in honest work. He also wouldn’t allow people to look down on him for his humble beginnings in Vietnam. The more resistance he met, the harder he worked to prove the naysayers wrong. In The King of Trash, this determination becomes a central theme, showing how David’s work ethic shaped both the company’s rise and its cultural significance. This philosophy anchors both CWS and VWS, shaping the multigenerational mindset that continues to sustain the family’s enterprises. Duong’s siblings, Kristina Duong and Victor Duong, and his son, Michael Duong, now play essential roles in moving the mission forward.

Forgiveness Opens Doors

David had a vision to help his father and mother’s homeland gain cleaner environments through recycling and sustainable projects. Among the early overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs from abroad to reinvest in the country, he faced resistance. He recognized that anger wouldn’t advance his goal of modernizing Ho Chi Minh City’s waste system, so he chose to forgive and remained focused despite the criticism. His commitment to transparency, showcased in the documentary, helped dispel long-standing misconceptions about large-scale recycling operations.

Vietnam Waste Solutions introduced modern recycling and waste management practices to Vietnam through its work on major environmental infrastructure projects that have helped raise operational and environmental standards in the region.

David has been closely involved in the Da Phuoc Integrated Waste Management Facility and the Long An Green Environmental Technology Park, both of which are significant environmental infrastructure developments in Southeast Asia.

The Da Phuoc facility operates as a fully integrated waste management facility, incorporating a sanitary landfill with engineered containment systems. Its design includes covered landfill cells, modern leachate collection and treatment systems, landfill gas collection and treatment, and odor-management controls—distinguishing it from open dumps that remain common in parts of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. These systems have contributed to improved environmental performance and quality-of-life outcomes for surrounding communities.

Vietnam Waste Solutions handles more than 7,500 tons of waste per day. This volume makes Vietnam Waste Solutions one of the most important private waste operators in Ho Chi Minh City, serving millions of residents daily.

Contribution Matters

The documentary The King of Trash follows multiple generations of the Duong family as they journey across two countries to build a better life. The documentary also highlights how California Waste Solutions and Vietnam Waste Solutions became models for modern recycling across Oakland, San Jose, and Southeast Asia. It showcases the companies David built and how his family continues to work together behind the scenes to keep them successful. Family members fill vital roles in the organizations.

Together, they have endured many hardships and remain united as they build a better future under David’s leadership, remaining committed to innovation, sustainable solutions, and giving back to the community. Through The King of Trash, audiences see how David Duong’s vision for sustainability extends beyond business; it is a blueprint for cross-cultural collaboration, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity for future generations. “Success is not based on how much money you make, but how much benefit you bring to the community,” David says.