The King of Trash" Documentary Draws Praise and Full House Audiences in Bay Area
News related to:California Waste Solutions · 3 min read
OAKLAND, Calif., Sep 15, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The documentary "The King of Trash" has garnered significant attention and praise, with tickets selling out for upcoming screenings in the Bay Area and San Jose. The film, which focuses on the life and entrepreneurial journey of Vietnamese American green entrepreneur David Duong, has been well-received by audiences and critics alike.
Duong, whose family built California Waste Solutions after arriving in San Francisco as refugees, is the central figure in the 72-minute documentary. The film traces the Duong family's escape from Vietnam in 1975, their resettlement in San Francisco, and the subsequent rise of their recycling business. It highlights the family's journey from scavenging for recyclable materials on San Francisco streets to establishing a successful company that has grown to serve communities across the Bay Area and Vietnam.
"The King of Trash" premiered in August, with screenings in eight U.S. cities, including San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Orange County, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Orlando. The film has now returned to the Bay Area, with new showings scheduled in Hayward, Dublin, San Jose, and Emeryville between September 12 and October 3. Nearly 1,000 people have registered or joined waiting lists for these events, according to the production team.
The documentary offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of America's leading green entrepreneurs. Duong, who cut a pragmatic and benevolent figure in the film, built a company that began with a handful of family members and expanded into an operation employing thousands of blue-collar workers in California. The company has also made significant contributions to environmental efforts in the local community.
In the film, Duong reflects on the challenges his family faced as refugees. "We almost died out there in the ocean. We had only one choice: survive," Duong recalls. The family reached a refugee camp in the Philippines and spent about a year there before being admitted to the United States. San Francisco became their new home, where they began collecting cardboard and other recyclable materials from the streets and businesses.
By the end of the 1980s, the Duong family had acquired seven trucks and the business began to thrive, earning them a contract from the city of Oakland. The family's efforts eventually led to the establishment of CoGiDo Paper Corporation in Oakland, followed by California Waste Solutions. Today, the company has a 50-year contract in Vietnam for waste handling and handles more than 6,000 tons of waste per day.
The film's strong critical reception is evident from the positive reviews it has received. "The King of Trash" was screened at Cinemark Century in Hayward, and attendees praised its authenticity and the Duong family's resilience.
The documentary also highlights Duong's influence on the green economy in both America and Asia. "Today, David is preparing his family's business for the long term. He has ambitions to take the company public, expanding its impact in California and Vietnam," said Wendy Nguyen, a spokesperson for California Waste Solutions. Duong's late father, who never got to see the Vietnam facility built, advised it would be a good venture to pursue.
The next screenings are scheduled as follows: - Dublin: Saturday, September 19, 2026, Regal Hacienda Crossings, 5 to 7 p.m. - San Jose: Final VIP pre-screening, Saturday, September 26, 2026, AMC Eastridge, 4 to 8 p.m. Audiences will have an opportunity to meet David Duong, members of the cast, and director Errol Webber. - Emeryville: Saturday, October 3, 2026, AMC Bay Street Emeryville, 5 to 8 p.m.
These screenings are particularly significant for the Bay Area, where the Duong family rebuilt its life after arriving in America, and San Jose, home to one of the country's largest Vietnamese American communities. For many of those families, the history portrayed in "The King of Trash" is not distant history but a story that belongs to people they know.