Budgeting for waste management costs is vital for every business, regardless of its size, industry, and location in the US. It’s a service that’s easy to forget about but one that you must set aside enough money to cover. Otherwise, you could end up with trash building up on your site or face fines for improper disposal.

Factoring waste removal costs into your budget should be done from the start, while regularly reviewing rates helps ensure you’re not paying over the odds for commercial garbage removal. Waste management prices vary across professional collection companies and the costs depend on many other aspects.

Create a cost-effective commercial waste collection plan for your organization with our expert advice. Discover how much waste management could cost your business, the factors that affect prices, and how to reduce your expenditure for better budgeting.

Commercial trash removal costs businesses in the US more than $50 billion each year. This estimate includes dumpster rental, collection fees, and disposal costs to get rid of all types of business waste. How much every company pays for waste removal depends on lots of different aspects though, as every business has unique garbage management needs.

Many factors affect the cost of trash removal for businesses. These are:

• Waste types – prices to collect and dispose of different waste materials vary. Common streams like food waste, paper and cardboard, and solid waste are often cheaper than other materials. The likes of hazardous waste are more expensive as they undergo greater regulation and require specialist handling.
• Dumpster sizes – the size and number of containers you use to store commercial trash affects dumpster rental costs. Generally, using bigger dumpsters and bins is costlier (although some companies may offer discounts if you rent in bulk).
• Collection frequencies – the more often your commercial waste is collected, the higher the costs. Extra trash removal trips require additional fuel and labor costs, which increases the price. The number and size of dumpsters and garbage volume affect how regularly you need waste collected.

Cutting commercial waste collection costs is a common way to improve budgeting for any business. Paying for professional trash removal is unavoidable and you’re usually stuck with the prices waste management companies charge though. It’s possible to create a cost-effective solution with a couple of small actions.

These are a few ways to reduce the cost of waste management:

• Combine bigger dumpsters with less frequent pickups to save on collection costs
• Reduce waste by recycling more and donating old items where possible
• Review your current waste production and identify areas to minimize trash
• Switch suppliers to those with minimal and/or recyclable packaging
• Use a waste broker to compare prices and source bespoke solutions

More than two billion tons of waste are dumped every year globally – enough to go around the world 24 times if it was all loaded up into garbage trucks. That’s an incredible amount and it’s hard to visualize. Current waste statistics show that the amount of garbage homes and business produce is growing.

There are many different types of waste produced, the way countries manage them varies, and recycling rates range across the world. We’ve compiled some interesting facts about trash in the US and globally to give an idea of the issue and why reducing how much garbage we generate and responsible waste management is important.

Understand how much garbage we produce as businesses and households with the following wide range of facts about trash and waste statistics.

• World waste facts
• US waste facts

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been recording and reporting waste management statistics for the USA for more than 35 years. Various other organizations also collect data and trash statistics across the US. As one of the largest countries in the world, it’s no surprise that the USA generates high volumes of many waste types.

Here are some key waste statistics for the US:

• The US produced 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018
• This is a big increase over the past three decades as in 1990 the US generated 208.3 million tons of MSW
• US citizens create 4.9 pounds of trash per person per day – the highest volume per person of any country
• About $200 billion a year is spent on solid waste management in the States
• 75% of American trash is recyclable yet only around 30% is recycled
• Paper and paperboard make up around two-thirds (67%) of all the MSW recycled in the US
• $11.4 billion worth of recyclable containers and packaging are thrown out in the USA every year
• Nevada has the most tons of waste per person in landfills with 38.4 tons
• Idaho has the least tons of waste per person in landfills with 4.1 tons
• It’s believed that 40% of the heavy metals in US landfill sites are from electronic waste

How waste management processes work are also different across the world. Richer nations generally have more regulations and processes in place to deal with trash responsibly. Waste management covers a wide area and includes everything from the ways trash is stored to collection and disposal.

Understand how it varies globally with these waste management facts:

• Two-thirds of countries have legislation and regulations for solid waste management in place
• 62% of global waste is collected in controlled at municipal facilities – the other 38% of global trash is dumped, burned, or discarded irresponsibly
• Waste collection rates vary by region – Europe, Central Asia and North America collect at least 90% of waste, but Sub-Saharan Africa collects about 44% of waste
• It’s estimated that cities will produce three times as much trash in 2025 compared to 2009
• One of the biggest landfill sites in the world is the Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi, Indonesia – it manages up to 40 million tons of waste with a further 230,000 tons of household waste added every year

A waste broker is a professional business that organizes the collection, disposal, and other trash management services for a company. They act as an intermediary for the company between other waste haulers and garbage collection firms. Sourcing, optimizing, and decreasing commercial trash costs and resource recovery are their main roles.

Waste brokers work with a network of local and national suppliers and vendors. These are verified and vetted waste management companies that actually deliver and collect dumpsters and garbage cans from your business. The waste broker determines which are the best and most cost-effective ones to use based on your commercial trash needs.

Find out more about how waste brokers operate, the ways they can save businesses money and time, and what to look for if you’re considering using a trash broker.

Waste broker companies help businesses of any size that operate in any industry manage their waste storage, collection, and disposal efficiently and cost-effectively. They use their expertise to compare waste haulers and their services, scrutinize fees and charges, and source the best options for your business.

Waste brokers have a network of vetted and verified suppliers. These range from national franchises to independent local haulers and those that specialize in collecting and disposing of certain materials. Once you tell a waste broker some details about your trash and business, they’ll determine the most appropriate and cost-effective suppliers to use.

The main roles of a waste broker include to:

• Understand business waste needs – good waste brokers will discuss the types and volumes of trash your business produces as well as the size and location of your site to get an insight into your management needs. Their expertise helps determine the best dumpsters, collection frequencies, and recycling or disposal methods tailored to your company.
• Compare suppliers – with an understanding of your requirements, they’ll find suitable suppliers from their network that provide efficient and affordable services. Factors including cost, location, reliability, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance will be considered.

Most businesses don’t have a dedicated role or specialist for managing their trash. This involves everything from comparing quotes and determining the best dumpster sizes and numbers to organizing collections and segregating materials. Using a waste management broker puts these tasks into the hands of an expert for the best possible results.

These are the main benefits of using a waste management broker:

• Save money as waste brokers compare prices from a wide range of suppliers to provide competitive quotes bespoke to your specific needs.
• Save time with everything from getting quotes, arranging pickups, and dealing with bills handled by the waste broker, freeing up your team’s time to focus on their tasks.
• Improve your environmental impact by organizing professional recycling services and responsible disposal methods to avoid sending trash to landfills.
• Access expert analysis for better decision-making for your commercial waste management.