What to Do When Everything Goes Wrong with Your Valet Services

Valet services are a great idea, right? There are very few people in the world who actually enjoy taking out the trash - and valet services are a perfect solution. 

But what happens when your valet services go wrong? What if your porter doesn’t show up? Or if he leaves garbage strewn all the way to the dumpster? What happens when this vital part of your waste management is in crisis?

It doesn’t happen a lot. We work with several really wonderful valet service providers.Their porters come on time and get the job done - and do it well. 

But when problems do arise, it’s a major pain. 

One of our clients just recently asked for help for this exact issue. 

Valet Waste Service: The Problem

First, they had issues with having quality services. Frankly, it was gross - they were leaving streaks down the hallways, which I think we can all agree is really less than ideal. 

Maintenance ended up having to hose down the hallways. This successfully cleaned up the mess, but it also damaged the lights on the floors below. They had to be replaced - and it wasn’t a cheap fix.  

Once we found out this happened, we reached out to the service provider and secured a $4,000 credit for their account. 

But the issues didn’t stop. 

The valet porter stopped showing up, and the new one either couldn’t figure out how to operate the compactor, or kept missing pick-up in entire buildings.

The Solution

After going through three porters in about as many months, we decided enough was enough. Residents were complaining and the employees on-site had resorted to picking up the garbage themselves! The valet “services” were anything but good service.

We found them a new valet service that we knew was dependable, and are in the process of ensuring a smooth transition. 

When things go wrong with your waste management, you need to have recourse. You need someone who knows the market and who will have your back when problems arise. 

Resolving valet services issues are just one way we serve our multi-family clients. You don’t have to troubleshoot valet waste problems on your own! You can have reliable, experienced help on your team. 

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Do you have valet services at your locations? Have you run into any waste service issues in the past? Sound off in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What would you do with an extra $12,000? This company found out!

Not too long ago, Anita Huffman got in touch with us. As the corporate director of a large manufacturing plant, Anita knew that there was a chance that they could be overspending on waste. They had several dumpsters and compactors on site, but they were also producing plastic byproducts that weren’t being sold.

When they got in touch with us, we explained that they would take on zero risk during our audit process. They wouldn’t pay us anything if we didn’t find savings.

We began the audit process in 2018 and we examined every waste stream that was available to them.

In the end, we found $12,000 worth of monthly savings!

Anita wrote us:

“My team and I were pleasantly surprised how much of a difference you made on our bottom line. 

During your audit, you uncovered more than $12,000 in monthly savings opportunities. Your exhaustive process and your team’s dedication to our success has permanently changed our approach to waste management. 

With your help, we’ve reduced our waste spend by thousands of dollars every year. We’ve decreased equipment inefficiencies, and we have service schedules that align with our production needs. 

Your team has gone the extra mile, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Anita were overspending on their waste and they had no idea! She and her team found out that they were unknowingly making some critical waste management errors. But now, thanks to our exhaustive audit, they’re saving.

Too many companies in the US are overspending on their waste and recycling expenses. You don’t have to be one of them! What could you do with the savings from a 10-30% reduction in waste?

What it's Like to Partner with Us - Part 2

Thanks again to Patrick Theismann of Beacon Management for sitting down with us and answering these questions.

Below, you’ll find the transcript of the remainder of our interview with him.

How much savings did we find for you all?

I think we saw a 25-35% reduction?

On a scale of 1-10 how easy was it to work with us?

10!

What service issues have we been able to help you with?

My hauling charges! And simple things like getting a new container. My managers have probably called the hauler 4-5 times, and now I can turn that over to you all.

We’ve also had missed pickups. Carolina Woods, one of our properties, is a good example. The haulers were dreadful, the containers were in terrible shape. We weren’t getting punctual removal. That has changed now!

We’ve got new containers out there and we’ve got a difference structure now. It’s been very beneficial. Carolina Woods was one where I really needed you all to step in and reach out to your hauler contracts especially since we had just taken over the management portion for that location. Taking over contract management for us

Would you recommend our services? Why or why not?

No, because I don’t want my competitors to find you!

Actually, I have recommended you all before. A lot of my colleagues and contemporaries are in similar positions to me.

I handle a lot of operations. I also wear a development hat, trying to organically grow the company whether it be through acquisition or new construction or new property management opportunities. I simply don’t have time to negotiate our hauling contracts.

Getting notifications that expirations are coming up is extremely helpful. A lot of the service contracts we have automatically renew. If I don’t know they’re coming up to the deadline of when I can serve notification, that locks me in for another year or two! I am just not as in tune with when those contracts come up.

Being able to rely on you all has made things a lot easier for me.

What it's like to partner with us - Part 1

Not too long ago, we sat down with one of our long-time clients, Patrick Theismann. We wanted to get his perspective on what it’s really like to work with us, and how we were able to help him and his team consistently reduce waste expenses.

Read part 1 of the full interview below!

What is Beacon Management?

Beacon Management was founded in 1979, by my father in law. We manage and develop affordable housing for families and seniors. That’s the bulk of our portfolio. We do commercial as well as market rate development, but the company was really founded on affordable housing.

We have 32 properties throughout the country from Connecticut to South Carolina. The bulk of them are in North Carolina from Winston to Wilmington. And we have three in South Carolina and one in Connecticut.

How did you initially find out about our services?

I think you (Tyler Brunson, WCI’s CEO) came to my office! We talked a little bit. I think you were just getting started when we first did it. As business moves on a day to day basis, there are only certain things you have time for. One of which is negotiating contracts. I found myself negotiating more and more contracts for hauling as they were coming up or trying to save properties money.

Operating costs for an affordable community are extremely important. Our margins are pretty thin, so anything we can do to help operations is always helpful.

Taking something that I don’t necessarily like to do and working with someone who has a lot more knowledge in the industry has made things a lot easier for me.

Were you aware that you needed waste solutions or had waste disposal problems?

Not really! I knew there was ways to cut costs. I knew that we could cut costs. But without the intrinsic knowledge of the industry, I had no way to know. I could haggle with people with the best of them, but if I don’t have the knowledge of the industry, it doesn’t do me much good. That’s where I found the most value in working not only our friendship, but in working with someone who has the knowledge in the industry that I had none in as well as saving my companies and my properties more money.

What had you tried previously to reign in waste expenses?

I was haggling with hauler and they would say “this is what it is” and I didn’t have any recourse to go after them with. I found myself going to hauler to hauler trying to find competitive pricing, but I wasn’t getting any real traction because you don’t really know who to contact.

As I think as we mature in our professional careers, what you know is very important. But who you know is also very important! Me calling a customer service line, and you calling someone you actually know? Much different outcomes.

What was most surprising to you about our audit process?

It wasn’t difficult! Half of our time is spend doing due diligence to close deals. Obviously getting you the service agreements and contracts are not the most difficult thing to do! There are alot more arduous tasks you have do!

I found it easy to send you the stuff — it was actually more difficult for me to find the documents. We’re trying to move to more digital records, so sending you the invoices and service contracts has helped me manage that process because we have to keep them electronically. Now every agreement that we’ve negotiated or renegotiated I have electronically, so the access makes that a little bit easier.

Was there anything that surprised you about our initial savings recommendations?

Well, it actually goes back further than that. When you and I talked, I was intrigued by your model because there’s a lot of services that will say, “If you pay me ‘x’, I will be able to find you this.” I liked your model because similar to a developer, you get what you get. If you’re able to save money, then you make some money, and you save some money.

So really, that was the biggest aspect of our meeting and why I wanted to do business with you. I knew that if you didn’t do your job effectively, I didn’t have to pay you. If you did do your job effectively, you earned it, you made the agreed amount that we had determined according to your agreement, and we also saved.

I really liked that because I wasn’t coming out of pocket right away. I found the savings, and you money that you agreed upon. It was a win-win because it wasn’t out of pocket! Liquidity as a developer is not something we have a lot of! As a management firm, we have a lot of cash that goes out for proposals and so me not having to put money up front for a hopeful savings on the back end made me rest a lot easier.

What makes a prospective partnership attractive to you? Let us know in the comments below!

What To Do With A $20,000 Waste Bill

Just a few months ago, one of our clients got an unwelcome surprise. They got their hauler invoice for the month and found that their service rates had increased not 9, not 90, but by 900%!

As you can imagine, they were somewhat less than thrilled.

They didn’t have any service or equipment changes. In fact, nothing had changed. 

And yet here they were. They paid a little over $2,000 in April, but found themselves being charged over $20,000 in May.

So naturally, they got in touch with their vendor. 

Now I wasn’t there but based on what they told us, I imagine the conversation went something like this:

“Hey guys, Apartment Complex X here. There’s got to be something wrong with our invoice this month - it jumped over $18,000! Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Hauler: “Hmmm. Um, it’s a rate increase.”

“A what?”

Hauler: “A rate increase.”

“You’ve got to be joking. What kind of rate increase entails a 900% jump? That’s ridiculous!””

Hauler: “ Well ma’am, standard price increases are typical and frequently occur after a certain period of time…”

I can’t tell you what I would have said to end this conversation. But I can tell you that Apartment X got in touch with us rapidly. 

And their WCI project manager jumped in immediately. 

He stayed on the the haulers like a hawk to get a sound answer. After several rounds of calls, the WCI project manager was finally able to speak to someone at this particular hauler’s office who could help. And - surprise, surprise - this person told tell him that the increase was indeed due to an internal error. 

But the issue wasn’t all cleared up.

The next month’s invoice came out and was not quite as high, but it was still way off. It wasn’t until the following month’s invoice came out - 2 months after the $20K bill - that the pricing was finally corrected.  Our project manager fought for the client at every turn and he didn’t stop until the issue was completely resolved.

What would they have done if they couldn’t have called us? Gone back and forth with their service provider for hours and days and weeks to try to reach a resolution? Paid the invoice? Filed a lawsuit?

But they did call us. They knew we had their backs. We fought on their behalf, and they didn’t have to pay the inaccurate invoices or even accept any sort of rate increase. 

This is an extreme example of something that actually happens frequently. We find errors on client bills about 10% of the time. And when we do, we do exactly what we did here - we encourage the provider to correct the invoice. 

What would your staff do with an error like this? Would they have the time and resources to devote to it?

We help companies eliminate their waste worries - and prevent overpaying on hauler contracts and invoices. Learn how we can help you by scheduling a free consult today!

What Are Valet Services ( + 2 Ways to Save on Them!)

Trash valet service is when trash and recycling get picked up outside your door.

These services are typically performed at multi-family residences, or apartment buildings. Residents simply put their trash outside their door and the valet service employee picks it up. Then, they either deposit it at your on-site trash receptacle, or they take it to the dump themselves.

This service can be very attractive to potential residents since so few people enjoy taking out the trash. It’s something that can make your apartment complex stand out to potential leasers.

But like trash services, valet trash services can be overpriced. How would you know? Below, we’ll show you three ways you can save on your services.

1. Check out other vendors.

The easiest way to see if you’re overpaying is to ask other area vendors what they charge for similar services. If other area vendors charge way more or way less than what you’re currently paying, you’ll get a good baseline for how fair your prices really are.

Keep in mind, though, that rates are not the only thing you should compare. Some vendors may have certain clauses in their contract that would impact their overall pricing. Be on the lookout for auto-renewal clauses and language prohibiting price hikes. If vendor A includes rate caps in their contract, and vendor B doesn’t, vendor B will likely cost you more in the long run.

It’s also wise to ask vendors for references. Asking pointed questions of these references can help you understand what potential shortcomings may be. (See the video below for an example of why getting references is such a good idea!)

Rates should not be the only thing you compare! The cheapest service provider may have a terrible track record. You can also google their business and see how their clients rate them.

2. Scour your contract

It’s critical to your bottom line that your contract does not include:

• auto-renewal terms

• the possibility of additional fees and price hikes 

• zero provision for bad service

Auto-renewal terms will ensure your current contract renews. Not all contracts have the provisions you actually need to make sure you don’t overspend. You don’t want to be stuck with a bad contract!

You don’t want surprise additional fees on your invoices. And you certainly don’t want price hikes. You must have language on your contract that limits the possibility of this happening to you.

Valet services are an excellent amenity, but they’re not perfect. You need to make sure that you contract specifies that you have recourse in the event that service is not performed well, or inconsistently.

We audit our client’s valet services precisely for these reasons. It’s easy to have a bad contract and not know it. It’s easy to employ the most expensive service in town and have no idea.

Take some time to review your services to make sure they’re actually working for you.

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Do you have valet services at your locations? Have you run into any waste service issues in the past? Sound off in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Multi-Family Property Saves Thousands in Waste Expenses

What would you do with an extra $5000 a month in your business? You probably have a million ideas!

We specialize in giving businesses this exact opportunity. We help companies just like yours find the savings they’re sitting on.

Ardmore is one of those companies. After we found savings, Lisa Russell, the COO of Ardmore, wrote,

“We have a valuable partnership with Waste Consultants. At first, I was not sure how they could help Ardmore - now I know that we won’t do business without them!”

Why did Lisa give us such a glowing review?  I’ll show you.

Originally, Lisa was spending $425,000 a year on waste disposal. We got that down to $360,000, which is an annual gross savings of $65,000 or 15%.  

Another way to put it - they started making $5,000 more a month!

Here are some of the challenges we ran into and what we did to overcome them:

• They had multiple waste vendors in place with multiple contracts. We familiarized ourselves with each vendor and each contract to see where there were inefficiencies.

• No uniform pricing and unfavorable terms. Their vendors were all charging them different rates and their contracts were really not in their favor.

• Valet door-to-door service was overpriced. Prior to our partnership, Ardmore just wasn’t aware of alternative services. We found them a less expensive option that had great service.

We were able to find savings opportunities due to our comprehensive services. We performed an in-depth review that analyzed yards of waste per unit and per resident.

As a result, we renegotiated their waste hauler contracts. The hauler agreements are more favorable to Ardmore and the future pricing is much more predictable. We also found them a less expensive valet service, which further reduced their waste costs.

We do this day in and day out for companies across the nation, and we have success rates of over 90%.

Too many companies have hidden savings opportunities. Too many companies don’t really know what’s going on in their waste management process. You don’t have to be one of them.

What questions do you have about your waste management process? Let us know in the comments below!

Retirement Group Saves 22% Annually on Waste Disposal Expenses

Imagine being able to save your company $25,000. Actually, scratch that. Imagine being able to save your company a total of $100,000 over four years. You’d feel pretty good about that, right?

Rhonda Cummons, the controller of Presbyterian Homes, did exactly that. She wanted to solve her waste problems and save, so she reached out to us. As a result, she is saving 22% annually on her waste expenses.

Rhonda had three keys to success:

1. She agreed to a detailed audit

WCI audits are exhaustive - we leave no rock unturned. In the end, Presbyterian knew not only where they were overspending, but what actions they could take to quickly remedy it.

2. She approved our recommendations

Our thorough audit process revealed that Presbyterian Homes was overspending was by being over-serviced. We showed Rhonda how much she could save by cutting back on pick-up frequency, then we negotiated the change with the hauler. 70% of our clients’ sites are being serviced too frequently, so this is not an uncommon finding for us.

3. She approved contract changes.

Like most other companies out there, Presbyterian was paying ancillary fees - and they didn’t have to. After walking Rhonda through the contract process, we eliminated every additional fee on their contract. Going forward, our contract oversight will ensure that fair rates are maintained and that service issues are quickly resolved.

Maybe you’re like Presbyterian Homes. 

Maybe you feel you should look into your waste spend, but you just don’t have the time. 

Maybe you’re tired of ineffective haulers who you can never reach in an emergency. 

Maybe you don’t know where to begin to review your real waste needs.

Get expertise on your side. Schedule a free consult today and see how easy it is for you to save.

What it's Like to Partner with Us - Part 2

Today, Patrick shares with us how much savings we found, how easy it really was to work with us, and some specific examples of service issues we’ve helped with.

We work remotely with the vast majority of our clients, but Patrick happens to be about an hour down the road from us. Thanks again for your time, Patrick!

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How much savings did we find for you all?

I think we saw a 25-35% reduction?

On a scale of 1-10 how easy was it to work with us?

10!

What service issues have we been able to help you with?

My hauling charges! And simple things like getting a new container. My managers have probably called the hauler 4-5 times, and now I can turn that over to you all.

We’ve also had missed pickups. Carolina Woods, one of our properties, is a good example. The haulers were dreadful, the containers were in terrible shape. We weren’t getting punctual removal. That has changed now!

We’ve got new containers out there and we’ve got a difference structure now. It’s been very beneficial. Carolina Woods was one where I really needed you all to step in and reach out to your hauler contracts especially since we had just taken over the management portion for that location. Taking over contract management for us

Would you recommend our services? Why or why not?

No, because I don’t want my competitors to find you!

Actually, I have recommended you all before. A lot of my colleagues and contemporaries are in similar positions to me.

I handle a lot of operations. I also wear a development hat, trying to organically grow the company whether it be through acquisition or new construction or new property management opportunities. I simply don’t have time to negotiate our hauling contracts.

Getting notifications that expirations are coming up is extremely helpful. A lot of the service contracts we have automatically renew. If I don’t know they’re coming up to the deadline of when I can serve notification, that locks me in for another year or two! I am just not as in tune with when those contracts come up.

Being able to rely on you all has made things a lot easier for me.

What would you do with an extra $12,000? This company found out!

Not too long ago, Anita Huffman got in touch with us. As the corporate director of a large manufacturing plant, Anita knew that there was a chance that they could be overspending on waste. They had several dumpsters and compactors on site, but they were also producing plastic byproducts that weren’t being sold.

When they got in touch with us, we explained that they would take on zero risk during our audit process. They wouldn’t pay us anything if we didn’t find savings.

We began the audit process in 2018 and we examined every waste stream that was available to them.

In the end, we found $12,000 worth of monthly savings!

Anita wrote us:

“My team and I were pleasantly surprised how much of a difference you made on our bottom line. 

During your audit, you uncovered more than $12,000 in monthly savings opportunities. Your exhaustive process and your team’s dedication to our success has permanently changed our approach to waste management. 

With your help, we’ve reduced our waste spend by thousands of dollars every year. We’ve decreased equipment inefficiencies, and we have service schedules that align with our production needs. 

Your team has gone the extra mile, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Anita were overspending on their waste and they had no idea! She and her team found out that they were unknowingly making some critical waste management errors. But now, thanks to our exhaustive audit, they’re saving.

Too many companies in the US are overspending on their waste and recycling expenses. You don’t have to be one of them! What could you do with the savings from a 10-30% reduction in waste?

What it's Like to Partner with Us - Part 2

Thanks again to Patrick Theismann of Beacon Management for sitting down with us and answering these question.
Below, you’ll find the transcript of the remainder of our interview with him.

How much savings did we find for you all?

I think we saw a 25-35% reduction?

On a scale of 1-10 how easy was it to work with us?

10!

What service issues have we been able to help you with?

My hauling charges! And simple things like getting a new container. My managers have probably called the hauler 4-5 times, and now I can turn that over to you all.

We’ve also had missed pickups. Carolina Woods, one of our properties, is a good example. The haulers were dreadful, the containers were in terrible shape. We weren’t getting punctual removal. That has changed now!

We’ve got new containers out there and we’ve got a difference structure now. It’s been very beneficial. Carolina Woods was one where I really needed you all to step in and reach out to your hauler contracts especially since we had just taken over the management portion for that location. Taking over contract management for us

Would you recommend our services? Why or why not?

No, because I don’t want my competitors to find you!

Actually, I have recommended you all before. A lot of my colleagues and contemporaries are in similar positions to me.

I handle a lot of operations. I also wear a development hat, trying to organically grow the company whether it be through acquisition or new construction or new property management opportunities. I simply don’t have time to negotiate our hauling contracts.

Getting notifications that expirations are coming up is extremely helpful. A lot of the service contracts we have automatically renew. If I don’t know they’re coming up to the deadline of when I can serve notification, that locks me in for another year or two! I am just not as in tune with when those contracts come up.

Being able to rely on you all has made things a lot easier for me.

What it's like to partner with us - Part 1

What is Beacon Management?

Beacon Management was founded in 1979, by my father in law. We manage and develop affordable housing for families and seniors. That’s the bulk of our portfolio. We do commercial as well as market rate development, but the company was really founded on affordable housing.

We have 32 properties throughout the country from Connecticut to South Carolina. The bulk of them are in North Carolina from Winston to Wilmington. And we have three in South Carolina and one in Connecticut.

How did you initially find out about our services?

I think you (Tyler Brunson, WCI’s CEO) came to my office! We talked a little bit. I think you were just getting started when we first did it. As business moves on a day to day basis, there are only certain things you have time for. One of which is negotiating contracts. I found myself negotiating more and more contracts for hauling as they were coming up or trying to save properties money.

Operating costs for an affordable community are extremely important. Our margins are pretty thin, so anything we can do to help operations is always helpful.

Taking something that I don’t necessarily like to do and working with someone who has a lot more knowledge in the industry has made things a lot easier for me.

Were you aware that you needed waste solutions or had waste disposal problems?

Not really! I knew there was ways to cut costs. I knew that we could cut costs. But without the intrinsic knowledge of the industry, I had no way to know. I could haggle with people with the best of them, but if I don’t have the knowledge of the industry, it doesn’t do me much good. That’s where I found the most value in working not only our friendship, but in working with someone who has the knowledge in the industry that I had none in as well as saving my companies and my properties more money.

What had you tried previously to reign in waste expenses?

I was haggling with hauler and they would say “this is what it is” and I didn’t have any recourse to go after them with. I found myself going to hauler to hauler trying to find competitive pricing, but I wasn’t getting any real traction because you don’t really know who to contact.

As I think as we mature in our professional careers, what you know is very important. But who you know is also very important! Me calling a customer service line, and you calling someone you actually know? Much different outcomes.

What was most surprising to you about our audit process?

It wasn’t difficult! Half of our time is spend doing due diligence to close deals. Obviously getting you the service agreements and contracts are not the most difficult thing to do! There are alot more arduous tasks you have do!

I found it easy to send you the stuff — it was actually more difficult for me to find the documents. We’re trying to move to more digital records, so sending you the invoices and service contracts has helped me manage that process because we have to keep them electronically. Now every agreement that we’ve negotiated or renegotiated I have electronically, so the access makes that a little bit easier.

Was there anything that surprised you about our initial savings recommendations?

Well, it actually goes back further than that. When you and I talked, I was intrigued by your model because there’s a lot of services that will say, “If you pay me ‘x’, I will be able to find you this.” I liked your model because similar to a developer, you get what you get. If you’re able to save money, then you make some money, and you save some money.

So really, that was the biggest aspect of our meeting and why I wanted to do business with you. I knew that if you didn’t do your job effectively, I didn’t have to pay you. If you did do your job effectively, you earned it, you made the agreed amount that we had determined according to your agreement, and we also saved.

I really liked that because I wasn’t coming out of pocket right away. I found the savings, and you money that you agreed upon. It was a win-win because it wasn’t out of pocket! Liquidity as a developer is not something we have a lot of! As a management firm, we have a lot of cash that goes out for proposals and so me not having to put money up front for a hopeful savings on the back end made me rest a lot easier.

What makes a prospective partnership attractive to you? Let us know in the comments below!

What Our Clients Say About Our Services

Some of your top questions for Waste Consultants may be: 

• Do your services really work? 

• What’s it like to partner with you? 

• Do you always find savings?

Many of our clients have asked these questions, and I’m going to share the answers with you today. 

This post will show you what our clients appreciate about us - and why they keep renewing their service agreements. 

Our Clients Love Savings on Waste Expenses

The number one thing our clients love about what we do? Saving on waste disposal expenses. Evan clients who have been vigilant about their waste expenses find savings with us. We’re experts in the waste industry, which means we know exactly how to find the waste savings you’re sitting on.

How we find savings 

90% of companies are overspending on waste. Chances are, you’re one of them. 

We’ve saved our clients millions on their waste and recycling expenses. The waste industry is set up to charge you higher and higher prices, and to lock you into unfair contracts. We’re able to find 20-40% in savings for most clients because our audits find tailored solutions.  

We tailor our professional waste audits to your industry, your needs, and your geographic locations.  

Additionally, our process is thorough. Our exhaustive audit shows exactly where there are gaps in your current waste management process. We find and implement solutions for these gaps, and our solutions result in savings. 

We most frequently fix hauler contract terms, eliminate or regulate price hikes, and ensure your equipment and service levels are functioning at optimum efficiency. These changes often result in significant savings for you.

Our audits are risk-free and cash-flow positive. Learn more today by scheduling a time to talk with us.

What our clients think about waste savings 

Our thorough audits work - we find savings 90% of the time.

Take Anita Huffman, for instance. Her manufacturing company, TWE Nonwovens, was in need of waste solutions. 

After our audit, we found substantial savings and she was thrilled. She told us:

 “During your audit, you uncovered more than $12,000 in monthly savings opportunities. Your exhaustive process and your team’s dedication to our success has permanently changed our approach to waste management.”

Tad Dolbier of Tar Heel Capital was similarly impressed.  As the president of 75 Wendy’s restaurants, Tar Heel wanted to reign in their waste and recycling expenses.   

Tad had already tried to reign in spending, but he was still sitting on savings. He just didn’t have the market knowledge he needed to find all the opportunities, so he put our expertise to use. 

In the first month of invoice post-implementation, he saw gross savings of $6,800 a month. He wrote us: “When you came back to me with $6800 each month in savings, as well as significant refunds from over billing, I was truly impressed and grateful!”

We don’t just find savings in manufacturing and the food industries. We’ve also had huge success with multi-family housing. 

Scott Alderman of Landura Management (multi-family management), got in touch and wanted us to evaluate his waste spend. There were a lot of variables: 4,500 units in 9 states. They had different waste vendors and lots of bad contracts. The logistics were complicated. 

But even though these variables were a challenge, our approach remained the same. We looked for savings opportunities, and we found them. 

After we enacted our cost-cutting solutions, Scott reported: “The recommendations you implemented resulted in these expenses being reduce by 25%.” His gross savings? $116,000 each year. That adds up fast!  

Our savings are exceptional, and so is our service

But clients don’t only love the savings, they love our service. 

We don’t want you to just save hundreds of thousands of dollars. We want your savings experience to be easy. We want working with us to be a breeze. 

And fortunately, we find that many of our clients have this experience. 

Our clients appreciate being treated well

Patrick Theismann of Beacon Management, an affordable housing management company, wrote,

I am happy to report that we are realizing some nice cost reductions as a result of your recommendations, but I’m equally as pleased with the level of customer services that you have provided to Beacon. It’s nice to know that I can pick up the phone or shoot you a quick email with any waste and recycling service issues that may come up and get a very quick response.

Patrick appreciated the savings, but he also deeply appreciated how well he was treated.

He liked that we were quick to respond to any additional waste concerns. Anytime had had any issue with his hauler, he didn’t have to go figure out what to do. Instead, we fought for his company’s best interests - and we still do.  

Tom Driscoll of PS Business Parks noticed and appreciated the same thing: 

Your team communicated with us every step of the way, met every deadline and put in the necessary time to help answer questions. I’m confident that your solutions-oriented process will benefit our waste management for years to come.

We go beyond savings. We make sure any hauler or billing concerns are completely taken care of without you or your staff having to lift a finger. 

Our Clients Often Renew Our Partnership 

We save money and time, so our clients often renew their contract with us.

This is what one of our clients had to say when asked why they were renewing:

• Convenience for staff having one entity dealing with all our locations/haulers with service issues or service changes

• Hauler contract renewal negotiations – we have several contracts coming for renewal in early 2021

• Good knowing that the waste invoices will be reviewed, looking for errors or add on charges (we do not have the staffing to do that)

• During 2019 with the recycling industry being in flux, it was nice having Waste Consultants explain various options in order to minimize cost increases. 

We make it easy to save on waste. Then we offer on-going waste invoice and contract monitoring. And we are your first defense against service issues.

So when service issues arise, we take care of the haulers. We ask for credits when necessary. And we monitor your invoice to make sure your waste vendor is billing you per contract specifications. We take all this on so that you and your staff can rest easy - and focus on higher priorities. 

You can’t afford to not have a waste ally.  

Your time is worth protecting. Your bottom line is worth protecting. 

Give us a call today and secure a waste ally. 

Retirement Group Saves 22% Annually on Waste Disposal Expenses

Imagine being able to save your company $25,000. Actually, scratch that. Imagine being able to save your company a total of $100,000 over four years. You’d feel pretty good about that, right?

Rhonda Cummons, the controller of Presbyterian Homes, did exactly that. She wanted to solve her waste problems and save, so she reached out to us. As a result, she is saving 22% annually on her waste expenses.

Rhonda had three keys to success:

1. She agreed to a detailed audit

WCI audits are exhaustive - we leave no rock unturned. In the end, Presbyterian knew not only where they were overspending, but what actions they could take to quickly remedy it.

2. She approved our recommendations

Our thorough audit process revealed that Presbyterian Homes was overspending was by being over-serviced. We showed Rhonda how much she could save by cutting back on pick-up frequency, then we negotiated the change with the hauler. 70% of our clients’ sites are being serviced too frequently, so this is not an uncommon finding for us.

3. She approved contract changes.

Like most other companies out there, Presbyterian was paying ancillary fees - and they didn’t have to. After walking Rhonda through the contract process, we eliminated every additional fee on their contract. Going forward, our contract oversight will ensure that fair rates are maintained and that service issues are quickly resolved.

Maybe you’re like Presbyterian Homes. 

Maybe you feel you should look into your waste spend, but you just don’t have the time. 

Maybe you’re tired of ineffective haulers who you can never reach in an emergency. 

Maybe you don’t know where to begin to review your real waste needs.

Get expertise on your side. Schedule a free consult today and see how easy it is for you to save.

Food Distribution Group Slashes Waste Spend by 50%

Not too long ago, Southern Foods was overspending by $38,400 on their waste disposal services. 

They didn’t know could add to their bottom line by adding a recycling stream. They didn’t know they were being overserviced. And they didn’t know they were being overcharged!

But they did know that too much time was being spent on monitoring invoices. And they knew that something had to change.

When we came on board, the first thing we did was perform a waste generation survey, or an audit. We looked at their waste sources, their vendors, their contracts, and their invoices. We looked at service levels, at pick-up frequency, and at the dumpsters and roll-offs on site. 

Southern Foods was originally paying over $70,000 on waste. We were able to cut that down to $33,600 - a 53% reduction!

We found the gaps in their current waste management process and offered an implementation strategy for results-driven solutions. Our audit revealed that by diverting their recycling materials from their waste stream, they could recoup revenue. The audit also showed they were being serviced too much and were paying for more pick-ups than they needed.

We implemented cost-cutting measures and optimized their service levels, coordinating our efforts with site managers.

Vic Nussbaum was so relieved that his waste worries were gone, he wrote us: “Your thoroughness allowed me to spend time ‘managing’ the operations here at Southern Foods, instead of ‘managing’ our waste bills.”

Vic knew the value not only of protecting his bottom line, but protecting his time. He knew that his time was best allocated to real management. That didn’t include babysitting haulers or reviewing invoices. 

He knew that he could trust us because our process was exhaustive. We found incredible savings - and he knew we would do our part to protect those savings by reviewing and monitoring all of his waste invoices. 

We’ve helped companies in every industry find relief from their waste worries. Our work levels the playing field: you aren’t subject to price hikes, to contract auto-renewals, or to tacked-on fees.  Budgeting for waste expenses becomes easier because you’ll know exactly what you’ll be paying. And ultimately, you have the peace of mind knowing that your resources are allocated appropriately.

How much savings are you sitting on? Find out for free - all of our consults and audits are free. Schedule a no-obligation consultation to see if our services are a fit for you.

What to Do When Everything Goes Wrong with Your Valet Services

Valet services are a great idea, right? There are very few people in the world who actually enjoy taking out the trash - and valet services are a perfect solution. 

But what happens when your valet services go wrong? What if your porter doesn’t show up? Or if he leaves garbage strewn all the way to the dumpster? What happens when this vital part of your waste management is in crisis?

It doesn’t happen a lot. We work with several really wonderful valet service providers.Their porters come on time and get the job done - and do it well. 

But when problems do arise, it’s a major pain. 

One of our clients just recently asked for help for this exact issue. 

Valet Waste Service: The Problem

First, they had issues with having quality services. Frankly, it was gross - they were leaving streaks down the hallways, which I think we can all agree is really less than ideal. 

Maintenance ended up having to hose down the hallways. This successfully cleaned up the mess, but it also damaged the lights on the floors below. They had to be replaced - and it wasn’t a cheap fix.  

Once we found out this happened, we reached out to the service provider and secured a $4,000 credit for their account. 

But the issues didn’t stop. 

The valet porter stopped showing up, and the new one either couldn’t figure out how to operate the compactor, or kept missing pick-up in entire buildings.

The Solution

After going through three porters in about as many months, we decided enough was enough. Residents were complaining and the employees on-site had resorted to picking up the garbage themselves! The valet “services” were anything but good service.

We found them a new valet service that we knew was dependable, and are in the process of ensuring a smooth transition. 

When things go wrong with your waste management, you need to have recourse. You need someone who knows the market and who will have your back when problems arise. 

Resolving valet services issues are just one way we serve our multi-family clients. You don’t have to troubleshoot valet waste problems on your own! You can have reliable, experienced help on your team. 

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Do you have valet services at your locations? Have you run into any waste service issues in the past? Sound off in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Multi-Family Management Saves $143,000 Annually

Have you ever looked at your waste invoices and thought: This is way too complicated!

Maybe you have dozens, even hundreds, of locations. Maybe you have stacks of hauler contracts, all with different service providers and terms. It can be near-impossible to monitor invoices - much less review service efficiency!

Jeff Holoman was well aware of this. As president of Partnership Property Management, he had multiple waste vendors and different contracts for all 250 of his company’s properties. 

He wanted to find a way to streamline his disposal process. He was spending over $800,000 on waste disposal per year, and Jeff knew he could do better.  

We helped Jeff fix his waste worries - permanently. Our exhaustive analysis showed exactly where the gaps were in Jeff’s current waste management model. We presented resolutions to every problem we found. 

After we got Jeff’s go-ahead, we renegotiated hauler contracts for many of the properties, and made sure that pricing was regulated. We also ensured that PPM was getting ideal contract terms that were actually in their favor - not their haulers’. 

As a result, PPM saved over $100,000 each year on their waste expenses. 

Jeff no longer overpays on waste expenses, and he can rest easy knowing that current and future problems have been eradicated. Our on-going billing audit services ensure that their invoices are accurate, so their savings are secure.

Jeff was thrilled - he wrote us, 

“I would like to thank you for your continued service and vigilance on our behalf. It is comforting to know that we have a trustworthy company monitoring the complicated nuisances of our waste contracts.”

No matter how complicated you think your waste situation may be, there is absolutely recourse for you. 

You don’t have to be held hostage by confusing contracts and an onslaught of invoices. Investing just a little time in learning the ins and outs of your contracts (or how to renegotiate your contract!) will help you pinpoint exactly where there are shortcomings in your current waste management process. 

Knowing the problem is the first step to solving it - and in this case, it’s also the first way to find savings you’re currently sitting on! 

Property Management Company saves $116,000 - Annually!

Would you like to save your company $100,000? What about over $1,000,000 in four years? 

Scott Alderman of Landura Property Management did exactly that not too long ago.

(He’s not the only one. Tad is saving $6,500 a month, and Lisa is saving $65,000 in gross savings.)

Scott was able to accomplish this even though Landura had a lot of variables. They had 4,500 units in 9 states. They had different waste vendors and lots of contracts - and bad ones at that. The logistics were complicated, to say the least. 

And, to top it all off, they were spending $440,000 on their waste spend every year. 

Scott really wanted streamlined waste management at a fairer price point. So we helped him get there. 

We did a comprehensive analysis. We looked at each location’s invoice history, the fine print of all the contracts, and area hauler pricing. We found the holes in their contracts, and found where they were being over serviced.  

We were able to help Scott find relief from waste headaches. We reduced his waste spend to $324,000 annually - a cut of 26%, or $116,000. 

His contracts were made air-tight, and his services were standardized.

“The recommendations you implemented resulted in these expenses being reduced by 25%.

Besides the savings, I appreciate the excellent communication you and your staff have given us

and the fact that you are monitoring our bills each month.”

- Scott Alderman, Landura President

We love helping companies find freedom from waste worries. Our clients become the exception to the rule - they are part of the 5% of businesses who don’t overpay on waste expenses. 

Find out more about how we share in savings with our clients (which ensures we find the most savings possible), or read more about how companies nationwide are overspending on waste - and how you can stop! 

What To Do With A $20,000 Waste Bill

Just a few months ago, one of our clients got an unwelcome surprise. They got their hauler invoice for the month and found that their service rates had increased not 9, not 90, but by 900%!

As you can imagine, they were somewhat less than thrilled.

They didn’t have any service or equipment changes. In fact, nothing had changed. 

And yet here they were. They paid a little over $2,000 in April, but found themselves being charged over $20,000 in May.

So naturally, they got in touch with their vendor. 

Now I wasn’t there but based on what they told us, I imagine the conversation went something like this:

“Hey guys, Apartment Complex X here. There’s got to be something wrong with our invoice this month - it jumped over $18,000! Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Hauler: “Hmmm. Um, it’s a rate increase.”

“A what?”

Hauler: “A rate increase.”

“You’ve got to be joking. What kind of rate increase entails a 900% jump? That’s ridiculous!””

Hauler: “ Well ma’am, standard price increases are typical and frequently occur after a certain period of time…”

I can’t tell you what I would have said to end this conversation. But I can tell you that Apartment X got in touch with us rapidly. 

And their WCI project manager jumped in immediately. 

He stayed on the the haulers like a hawk to get a sound answer. After several rounds of calls, the WCI project manager was finally able to speak to someone at this particular hauler’s office who could help. And - surprise, surprise - this person told tell him that the increase was indeed due to an internal error. 

But the issue wasn’t all cleared up.

The next month’s invoice came out and was not quite as high, but it was still way off. It wasn’t until the following month’s invoice came out - 2 months after the $20K bill - that the pricing was finally corrected.  Our project manager fought for the client at every turn and he didn’t stop until the issue was completely resolved.

What would they have done if they couldn’t have called us? Gone back and forth with their service provider for hours and days and weeks to try to reach a resolution? Paid the invoice? Filed a lawsuit?

But they did call us. They knew we had their backs. We fought on their behalf, and they didn’t have to pay the inaccurate invoices or even accept any sort of rate increase. 

This is an extreme example of something that actually happens frequently. We find errors on client bills about 10% of the time. And when we do, we do exactly what we did here - we encourage the provider to correct the invoice. 

What would your staff do with an error like this? Would they have the time and resources to devote to it?

We help companies eliminate their waste worries - and prevent overpaying on hauler contracts and invoices. Learn how we can help you by scheduling a free consult today!

Wendy's Franchisee Saves More than $6,500 A Month

“When you first approached me about managing our solid waste costs, I was skeptical. When you came back to me with $6,800 per month in savings, I was truly impressed and grateful!” - Tad Dolbier, Vice President

Tad knew he had a problem. He owned 73 Wendy’s and his waste expenses were out of control. He was spending $321,600 on waste management a year - $26,800 a month.

He knew the right steps to take. Tad had already tried to re-negotiate multiple contracts with his haulers. But he was driving blind. Tad just didn’t have the waste industry knowledge to make his contracts airtight.  He didn’t know what other area companies were paying for their waste, so he didn’t have the leverage he needed to successfully negotiate. 

When we first met Tad, he was skeptical that we could reduce their costs. He had done everything he could think of - how could we possibly help him?

We had the industry knowledge he needed to find the savings he knew he was sitting on.

We did a thorough audit, which revealed several problems. He had:

• several under-performing vendors

• inefficient equipment

• poor quality waste hauler contracts.

We solved each of these problems. We found other vendor options for Tad, and made equipment recommendations that would further reduce costs. We made new vendor contracts that protected him against price gouging at every location he had. 

As a result, Tad ended up saving $85,200 every year - a 26% reduction in waste disposal expenses. How would a 26% reduction impact your bottom line?

Find out for free! Schedule a no-risk waste audit today.

Tad’s waste expenses were solidly under control. Over the course of his contracts, he saved thousands of dollars that he would have never known about if he hadn’t partnered with us. And thanks to the protection provided in his new contract, he could rest easy knowing his costs would stay relatively flat for years to come. 

Tad suspected he was overspending, so he partnered with us to complete a risk-free audit. If we hadn’t found savings, Tad wouldn’t have owed us a dime. Our audits are thorough, and they consistently work - 90% of our clients find savings.

How much savings are you sitting on? Find out for free. Schedule a no-obligation consultation to see if our services are a fit for you.