Press & Media

Sacramento, January 17, 2026 As The King of Trash  continues its journey to reach audiences across the country, Sacramento marked a meaningful stop, one where the story deeply resonated with the Asian and Vietnamese American community. The private pre-screening on January 17 welcomed 140 attendees , bringing together community leaders, professionals, families, and supporters for an evening that was both reflective and impactful. From the start, the atmosphere felt intentional

Oakland, January 10, 2026 The private pre-screening of The King of Trash in Oakland became a powerful, emotional gathering—one that felt less like a movie night and more like a shared moment in history. Hosted at Regal Jack London Square, the event drew nearly 280 RSVPs with more than 220 guests in attendance , filling the theater with elected officials, community leaders, media, family members, and longtime supporters . The energy in the room was unmistakable. Anticipation,

The King of Trash  has been featured by MarkMeets , with a new article exploring the film through the lens of determination, family, and environmental leadership. MarkMeets focuses on the personal foundation of the story—how David Duong’s journey is inseparable from his family’s values and their shared commitment to building something lasting. Rather than framing the film purely as a business or environmental documentary, the feature highlights the role of family continuity,

The King of Trash  has been featured in Hyper Magazine , spotlighting the film’s focus on immigrant resilience, legacy, and the long road from survival to contribution. The article highlights the journey of David Duong and his family, not as a story of overnight success, but as one shaped by patience, responsibility, and decades of steady work. It reflects on how the documentary moves beyond business headlines to examine the human experience behind building something meaningf

Building modern waste systems takes more than technology—it requires vision, discipline, and decades of commitment. In a recent feature by Grit Daily , David Duong  is recognized for taking exactly that long-term approach, while The King of Trash  captures the human story behind the infrastructure. The Grit Daily  article highlights how David Duong approached waste management not as a short-term operational challenge, but as a systems problem, one that requires investment, in

Tech Times  recently featured David Duong  and The King of Trash , shining a spotlight on a leadership journey that blends innovation with responsibility, and a documentary that captures how values and infrastructure can evolve together. The Tech Times  feature focuses on David Duong’s role in modernizing waste management systems not simply as an operator, but as a forward-looking leader who understands that sustainability requires both technological investment  and respons

We’re honored to share that The King of Trash  has been featured in International Business Times , highlighting the powerful story of the Duong family and a redefinition of environmental responsibility through integrity, resilience, and long-term vision. The feature centers on David Duong  and the journey behind The King of Trash —not simply as a business success story, but as a deeply human narrative of a Vietnamese refugee family that rebuilt its life through honest work an

Phố Bolsa TV recently aired a special feature on the documentary The King of Trash  titled “The Story Behind David Duong: From Refugee to the King of Trash.”  The segment highlights the remarkable journey of David Duong and his family, who fled Vietnam after 1975 and rebuilt their lives in the United States through hard work and perseverance. Through personal interviews and film footage, the report emphasizes the family’s early struggles, their commitment to honest labor, and

USA Today recently featured The King of Trash ,  a powerful new documentary that traces the true story of David Duong and his family’s journey from war-torn Vietnam to becoming pioneers in America’s recycling industry. According to the article, the film follows the Duong family’s escape from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975, their dangerous journey by sea, and months spent in refugee camps before arriving in San Francisco with nothing. Once in Oakland, the family surv

The San Francisco Business Times  feature highlights David Duong  as one of the most influential Vietnamese American entrepreneurs of his generation, recognized for his leadership in environmental sustainability, recycling innovation, and community impact in both the United States and Vietnam. The article traces Duong’s journey from a Vietnamese refugee following the fall of Saigon to becoming the President and CEO of California Waste Solutions  and Chairman of Vietnam Waste

San Francisco Business Times  recently featured The King of Trash , highlighting the documentary’s powerful portrayal of David Duong  and California Waste Solutions , and the family-led innovation that helped reshape recycling and environmental services in California. San Francisco Business Times  emphasizes how the documentary goes beyond a traditional business profile, presenting a deeply human narrative rooted in resilience, family values, and perseverance. Through archiva

California Waste Solutions Facility

David Duong CEO & Founder of California Waste Solutions

Following two deeply moving and well-received private premieres in Northern California,  The King of Trash  is making its way to Orange County for the next chapter of its pre-screening series. The film has already sparked emotional conversations, powerful reflections, and overwhelming praise from guests who experienced the early showings in San Jose and Oakland. A Powerful Start in Northern California The film’s first pre-screening in San Jose brought together more than 200 V

After a memorable and deeply emotional evening in San Jose,  The King of Trash  is continuing its private pre-screening series, with the next stop in Oakland — the place where the Duong family’s American story truly began. A Heartfelt Night in San Jose The San Jose pre-screening gathered more than 200 VIP guests, including community leaders, local officials, entrepreneurs, and longtime supporters who have followed the journey of  David Duong  and his family for decades. The a

California Waste Solutions known today as  California Waste Solutions, Inc .  did not begin with money, land, or big investors. It began with a family starting over. When the Duong family arrived in the United States after fleeing Vietnam in 1975, they had little more than determination and the willingness to work any job that allowed them to stand on their own feet again. Those early years were shaped by hardship, but they also planted the values that would guide everything

Before dawn breaks over Oakland, long before most of the city begins its day, David Duong often walks the quiet grounds of California Waste Solutions. The trucks are still at rest, the sorting lines silent, the air almost meditative. He pauses in the pale morning light not as a CEO surveying operations, but as a man who has carried an ocean’s worth of memory into every corner of his life. It was at dawn, nearly fifty years ago, when the Duong family pushed their small wooden

The Inspiring Journey of David Duong: From Refugee to Environmental Leader David Duong: A Visionary in Environmental Sustainability David Duong, known in Vietnam as Dương Tử Trung , is one of the most influential Vietnamese American entrepreneurs of his generation. He is widely respected for his leadership in environmental sustainability , recycling innovation , and community impact across the United States and Vietnam. As the President and CEO of California Waste Solutions

“The King of Trash” Documentary Elevates the Legacy of David Duong, and the Duong Family, Showcasing a Landmark American Dream Journey and Their Leadership in Environmental Innovation. California Waste Solutions  has released “ The King of Trash ,” a feature-length documentary directed by award-winning cinematographer Errol Webber. This film brings forward a powerful, deeply human portrayal of the life of David Duong , also known by his Vietnamese name Dương Tử Trung, and the

The story of the Duong Family  is one of the most powerful refugee success stories in the Vietnamese American community . Their journey from losing everything in 1975 to becoming respected sustainability leaders in the United States and Vietnam is the focus of “ The King of Trash ”, a feature-length documentary directed by award-winning cinematographer Errol Webber. The film presents the full humanity, courage, and impact of a family whose work has helped shape modern recycli