Trash is a fact of life. Every business creates garbage and needs someone to haul it away. Most businesses rely on waste management companies to do this job for them, but many of these companies operate on their own terms rather than do what’s best for their clients. This means your business suffers, rather than benefits, from their service.
If you’ve begun to suspect that your commercial dumpster contract is hurting your business rather than helping it, you probably aren’t wrong. There are many ways these companies make waste management a bigger headache for businesses like yours than it should be.
They work for themselves, not for you
The biggest problem with commercial dumpster contracts is that they are very one-sided, with terms and conditions written to benefit the waste management company and not you.
Take a look at your contract. How long does it last? Most contracts last from three to seven years, locking you into their service, whether they’re benefiting you or not.
These contracts also contain many stipulations that let them get away with not doing their job. For instance, most contracts set limits for how full your dumpster can be. If it’s too full when they come for pick-up, they can refuse to haul it while still charging you for making the trip.
In the industry, this is called a “dry run,” and it’s a major inconvenience when your waste management company refuses to empty your dumpster and leaves you to figure out a Plan B while still taking your money.
They charge too much
If you signed a commercial dumpster contract based on a fair quote and now find that your bills are higher than anticipated, you aren’t alone.
Waste management companies are notorious for increasing prices every year, whether they’ve improved services or not. And they’re allowed to because their contracts include clauses stating they can raise their rates at any time.
These companies are also very heavy-handed with their fees. For instance, many will charge you a fee if your dumpster is blocked, and they can’t access it. They won’t notify you of the issue, instead, they will report the incident to their manager, leave, and still charge you for their trip and an additional fee for their inconvenience.
Other possible fees may include things like:
- City fees to take your haul to the municipal dump
- Key fees if drivers require a key to unlock your containers
- Enclosure fees if drivers have to remove and replace bins in a fenced enclosure
- Dismount and push fees if the driver must get out of the cab and move your bins
- Regulatory fees to cover the costs of complying with environmental regulations
One final trick your waste management service might try is talking you into renting smaller trash containers to save on dumpster costs. However, smaller containers fill up more quickly. Then they charge you more overflow fees or increase scheduled pick-up days while charging you for each one.
Long story short, your commercial dumpster contract can quickly cut into your profits because it’s explicitly designed to make greater profits for the company you signed with.
They haul according to their schedule
It might sound convenient to have your trash hauled away on a regular schedule, but sometimes that inflexibility backfires.
Remember those fees for an overflowing container? Or the fact that your waste management service can refuse to haul a full container? That’s more likely to happen when the haulers only come on a set schedule.
Some companies let you request extra pick-ups, but you’ll be at their mercy for when they actually come. They might come tomorrow or four days later. Meanwhile, you have trash overflowing, creating obstacles and hazards for your employees.
Other companies will take your trash container with them to dump, only to return it at their own leisure. This means your business could be without its dumpster for a day or longer, with nowhere to keep your garbage.
The other inconvenience of being tied to your commercial dumpster contract’s schedule is that the haulers come on the same day, whether your dumpster is full or not. This means they’re charging you for a service you may not need that week and driving more trucks on your property that pose a safety risk to staff and customers on your site.
Take Back Control of Your Waste Removal
If your commercial dumpster contract isn’t serving you, it’s time to take back control of how your waste removal is managed.
Of course, you don’t have time to monitor when your dumpster needs to be emptied. You have better things to do. That’s why Smash My Trash has revolutionized the way businesses like yours control their waste removal.
We provide trash compacting services that reduce waste hauls and the hassle of commercial dumpster contract schedules and charges. Our Smash Trucks compact your garbage multiple times so that more fits in your container between hauls. Once compaction is complete, you’ll be notified so you may schedule a pick up by your waste hauling company.
When we reduce waste hauls for you with our trash compacting Smash Trucks, you avoid the pitfalls of restrictive, costly commercial dumpster contracts. There’s no need for you to waste time checking your garbage volume to avoid nitpicky fees. With fewer pick-ups, you’ll save money on unnecessary hauling, dry runs, and exorbitant fees. And you’ll always know if there’s still room in your dumpster or not.
Don’t let your waste management company call all the shots! Smash My Trash puts your business’s needs first and helps you minimize the stress caused by your restrictive commercial dumpster contract.
To learn more about the difference we can make for your business, schedule a free demo today!