"Do your waste reviews work?"

If you’re like most people, you haven’t ever heard of a waste and recycling review.

You may be skeptical about whether they can really be of value to you, your staff, and your company.

We’d like to submit that we bring value by:

• Helping 90% of the companies we work with reduce their waste expenses

• Saving your staff time by handling all service issues ourselves

• Making sure you save over time by making sure you’re using the least expensive services

• Creating contracts that protect you from price spikes, poor services and more for the duration of the contract.

But don’t take our word for it. See below for what our clients have to say about working with us.

“How Risky Are our Waste Audits?”

In all honesty, the majority of companies we work with have never heard of a waste audit prior to finding us. Many knew their waste and recycling disposal rates were high, and more than a few were frustrated with the lack of quality service and customer care.

But they didn’t necessarily know that a waste audit was the answer to their problems.

Trying a new solution can be uncomfortable for some companies, which is why we incur 100% of the risk. We don’t charge anything for the audit itself - we will only ever charge a client when our cost-cutting solution impact waste and recycling invoices. In other words, we only charge after you’ve started saving. (This method works - we find 10-35% savings for 90% of our clients.)

We incur this risk in two major ways.

1) Our audits are entirely self-funded.

2) We are paid only after you find savings.

Protecting your bottom line allows us to serve you best. Below, we’ll go into detail about each of the ways.

1) Our audits are entirely self-funded.

“Self-funded” means that we incur the initial expenses of performing the 1-3 month long audit. You don’t pay us during the initial investigation and analysis period; essentially making the audit itself free.

You don’t pay for:

• Our review of your contracts

• Our analysis of your invoices

• Our evaluation of market prices

• Our requisition of vendor bids

• Our waste and recycling stream analysis

While our waste and recycling audits have a 90% success rate, we don’t think it’s fair for you to pay for a service that you are not directly benefiting from. You don’t pay for our analysis, you pay for our solutions - the real-world, cost cutting solutions that actually affect and benefit your bottom line.

2) We are paid only after you find savings.

Our services are guaranteed to be cash-flow positive.

If we find zero savings, you owe us nothing. If this is the case, you essentially get a free audit. You get the confirmation that your waste streams are running the way they should. You get the assurance that your waste equipment is running efficiently, and that your service levels are suited to your actual needs. You know that you aren’t sitting on any hidden savings opportunities - and you didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket in order to obtain this knowledge.

If we find savings, we share in them at a rate of 50%. If we find you $100,000 in savings a year, you’ll keep $50,000 and we will be compensated $50,000. This also means if we find no savings, you don’t owe us anything. So our services aren’t an additional expense since you pay us solely out of the savings we find for you.

We charge this flat rate because it keeps us accountable, and it provides you with the best services possible.

Ultimately, using performance-based pricing is in your best interest. It encourages a higher discovery of savings because it motivates us to find every opportunity available for you.

This model makes us better partners - we have a huge incentive to produce results.  So our audits aren’t cut and dry; they’re tailored to your industry, your location, and your unique needs.

This is exactly why our audits have such a high success rate. We know exactly how to find the expensive problems you have with your waste management. We know what questions to ask, and how to be persistent in finding creative solutions tailored to your needs. Our success is your success. The more savings we find, the more we all benefit.

Why are you willing to take on so much risk?

We’re willing to incur risk because we know there’s a 90% chance we’ll find waste and recycling savings at the locations in your portfolio. After 18 years of being in business, we know where to look for savings.

We have success across multiple industries; click below to see for yourself.

Utility and Telecom Audit [Free Download]

80% of companies across the US are overspending on their utility and telecom expenses.

Why be one of them?

In a time when most companies are scrambling to try to cut expenses, a telecom audit may be the perfect way for you to start saving on recurring expenses.

In this free download, you’ll learn:

• 4 reasons you’re a great candidate for an audit

• 4 hidden utility and telecom problems you likely have

• What a utility and telecom audit is

• How much you could save with a utility audit

We’ve distilled all of our industry knowledge into a few short sections for your convenience.

How to Put Your Waste Management on Auto-Pilot

I’m willing to bet you didn’t wake up this morning thinking about how you could spend more of your time thinking about trash.

But I’d like you to consider spending a few minutes thinking about trash today.

Why?

Well, first, 90% of companies are overspending on their waste. You don’t need to be one of them. There are too many hidden problems that most companies have, and what they don’t know hurts them.

Second, it’s easy to save on your waste expenses. You don’t have to do inordinate amounts of work. You don’t have to do tons and tons of research to try to figure out how to save.

In fact, this blog post will show you just how easy it can be to save if you don’t have the money or time for a typical waste review.

You can put your waste management on auto-pilot by:

• Delegating the waste review process.

• Taking on 0% risk during the process itself.

• Ensuring future savings

Delegate the waste review process.

In order to save on your waste expenses, you need an independent waste review. Waste and recycling haulers don’t have the financial incentive to properly evaluate your real waste needs. They rarely set up service agreements that help you save. They don’t make it easy for you to make changes to your services or contract specifications.

You need a waste ally - someone who knows the industry and can show you where your savings opportunities are. You don’t need to have the time or expertise to do it yourself. You can delegate the entire process to a trusted industry expert.

You don’t need to be involved in the nitty-gritty details of your waste management process. You and your staff likely have more important things to attend to.

We take on the thorough examination process so our clients don’t have to. We find every overlooked savings opportunity, and show you the exact steps you need to take to find savings.

Taking on 0% risk for the off-site waste review.

The way we do business is really different from a lot of other waste auditors. If we don’t find savings during our review process, you don’t owe us anything. It’s that simple.

No savings, no charge.

It doesn’t happen often (only about 10% of the time in the past 19 years!), but when it does, we simply part ways with the client without charging a dime. In this scenario, the client essentially gets a free waste audit to ensure their waste management process is efficient.

We don’t believe in charging for services that are don’t actually help your bottom line. Lots of other companies out there don’t have a problem with that. But that’s not how we do things.

There are no monthly charges or invoicing during the initial review period. Instead, our off-site team works behind the scenes in conjunction with your staff to find your savings opportunities.

And even after the review process is completed, your risk is still mitigated. How? We are paid solely out of the savings we find for you. No extra line items in the budget. No scrounging for more resources to allocate. You can always afford us because we’re paid out of your waste savings - usually at rates of 50%.

Future Savings Opportunities are Never Missed.

After your initial review process is completed, we continue to periodically review your account for other savings opportunities.

• We track all contract expiration dates. Prior to your contract’s expiration, we evaluate your market to see if other less expensive haulers are available.

• We renegotiate expiring contracts. We ensure that you get the best terms available to you. We know exactly what should - and should not - be in a new contract, and we make sure that’s exactly what you get.

• We handle the negotiate process for new contracts. If a better, less expensive vendor becomes available at the right time, we handle all the negotiations and make sure you get the ideal contract terms.

So on top of the 10-30% reduction in waste expenses every month, companies can continue to expect support to solve and prevent future waste disposal problems.

Put waste savings on auto-pilot.

Having a waste ally allows you to find waste savings automatically. During the initial audit period, we require minimal documents and interaction with your team.

Our thorough review happens entirely off-site, and we continually review your account for more savings opportunities.

The entire process maximizes your resources. We protect your time and your investment in the review process, and our results are reliable - 90% of companies we work with see a reduction in waste expenses.

What questions do you have about putting your waste savings on auto-pilot?

Free Download: "7 Ways You're Making Your Hauler Rich!"

Let me share a little secret with you: you’re almost certainly overpaying your waste hauler.

The industry isn’t designed to help you save. It’s designed to help your haulers make more and more money off you. In the past 20 years we’ve been in business, it’s something we’ve seen again and again.

So we distilled the most common way people overpay in this handy download, which can be yours for free with the click of a button!

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Stop making the same waste mistakes over and over - for good!

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Why You Need a Waste Ally {Infographic}

When it comes to the waste industry, you need a waste ally to help you avoid hidden waste problems.

These hidden problems are unfortunately the norm in the waste industry. Typical waste contracts are written in the haulers favor. And up to 70% of companies nationwide are being over-serviced. You need a waste ally to protect you!

How to Get a New Waste Contract

You may find yourself at the point of needing a new waste contract.

Maybe you have just had enough of your hauler and their terrible service. Maybe you’ve realized that you’re paying ridiculous rates. Maybe you’re sick and tired of battling the same issues over and over again.

Whatever the reason, you’re officially done and you want out.

You’ll need to:

• Consider whether you actually can cancel your waste contract.

• Cancel your auto-renewal clause

• Compare bids

• Let your current hauler know you are terminating service

Getting a new hauler can seem like a daunting process, but these step-by-step instructions below will show you exactly what to do. 

Consider whether you can cancel your waste contract.

Most waste hauler contracts have 3-5 year terms. To cancel without a incurring an exorbitant fee, you will need to be in the last 3-6 months of your contract.

If you find yourself in this position, congratulations! You ‘l be able to get a new waste hauler soon.

However, if you’re not nearing the end of your contract, you’ll need to carefully consider whether it’s worth terminating the contract and incurring the associated fee. Usually, this fee is the average of the past six months worth of invoices - which you have to pay all at once!

In some cases, it may actually be worth it for you to consider paying the termination fee. Ask yourself: is my staff spending too much of their time trying to rectify issues? Are my residents too fed up? What are the other ways that I’m incurring financial loss due to these continued issues?

Even if you can’t get out of your contract right away, definitely cancel the auto-renewal clause as we describe below. That will set you up for successfully ending your contract when your current contract permits.

Cancel your auto-renewal clause.

Most contracts will automatically renew for an additional term of 3-5 years. When this happens, you’ll be stuck with your current contract and the same hauler, which is likely not what you want.

Other contracts may only renew for a month-to-month with the same terms - you’ll need to check your contracts and see what yours specify.

You’ll need to send a letter (yes, through the mail) to notify your hauler of intent to cancel this clause. Make sure to send it certified mail so that you have proof of its delivery so the hauler can’t say they “lost” it.

It’s worth noting that once you cancel this clause, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get a new contract with the hauler. It just means that you have the freedom to look for another hauler to employ.

Compare Waste Hauler Bids

To find other area haulers, try googling “waste haulers near me.” Contact them and ask them to provide bids for servicing your locations. You’ll need to tell them:

• The number of locations you have

• The types of equipment at each site and their size 

• How frequently each site and equipment should get serviced

Most waste sales representatives will get back to you with estimates in under a week. 

You’ll want to go over your list of service issues or questions with the haulers and see what their responses are. Some may be a bit cagey about their service reliability. Others may not care to limit their price hikes. Asking questions will root out the bad apples.

Let the best vendor know that you’d like to employ them starting on a specific date.  Make sure to coordinate your waste schedule with your old and new waste vendors so that you don’t have a service gap! 

Your new vendor will then send you a new contract. Look over it carefully - does it include all the language it needs to? Does it prohibit price hikes or cap them at a specified, annual percentage? Does it eliminate or cap ancillary fees?

Since you have at least one other bid from an area hauler, you have a pretty good idea of the market rates for waste services. You can use this information transparently with the hauler you’re negotiating with. 

The hauler’s aren’t guaranteed your business until the new contract is signed, and you can go elsewhere, if necessary. So they have incentive to work with you!

Terminate the Old Service Provider

You will need to terminate per your contract specifications. Usually, you will need to send a certified letter to them informing them that you are terminating the contract and that they will need to remove their equipment by a certain date. 

You’ll need to make a note of when the new service provider is dropping off their equipment, and when the old service provide will remove theirs. You don’t want to have a gap in service or too many dumpsters at your site!

Set Yourself up for Success with a New Waste Hauler Contract!

Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll be able to get a new waste contract with a hauler who is fairly priced and reliable. You, your staff, and those you serve all deserve to have trash service that isn’t a constant issue or headache! You’re well on your way to eliminating this sometimes aggravating problem.

What persistent issues are you having with your waste hauler right now? Let me know in the comments below.

How Much Can I Save On My Waste Spend?

Hundreds of businesses are continually overspending on waste disposal, reduction, and removal, yet so few of them are taking active measures to rescue their spending.

We want to help you find your hidden problems, their solutions - and start immediately helping your bottom line.

How much am I overspending?

If you’re spending more than $10,000 a month on waste, we can likely help you save 10%-30% on your waste spend. For some companies it will be a little less, for others, it will be more.

This is the average amount of savings for a company. How did we come up with this average? In the 17 years we’ve been in business we’ve helped hundreds of clients. And we typically have saved them 20-40% on their waste spend. 

Why is this number so dependable? 

It’s because we’ve been overseeing the industry for 18 years.  In short, because 90% of all our clients for the past 18 years overspend. 

If you’re spending north of $10,000 on waste, there’s a 90% chance you’re overspending. We help mid-size companies across every industry reduce and manage their waste. Most companies need our services. They’re overspending, and they have no idea.

We know how the waste industry operates. They’re going to try to overcharge you. Your waste hauling rates are going to increase, and you’re going to be charged for all kinds of fees that aren’t really service related. 

They’re going to overcharge you because it’s the industry norm: because they can. These haulers rely on the way that waste disposal and waste reduction contracts are so infrequently reviewed and prey upon that by implementing a variety of charges. 

What if you don’t find any savings? 

Over the years, there have only been a small percentage (about 10%) of companies that don’t benefit from our services. 

There can be any number of reasons for this. Sometimes certain markets are really tough. Other times, there are external factors that keep the companies from savings. 

When we don’t find any savings for a company, we actually see this as a benefit for them. First, the company now knows for certain that they’re paying fair prices for their waste spend. 

They know that their contracts are airtight, and they know that what they’re paying is commensurate with the market.

Secondly, the company just got a free waste audit. We don’t believe that you should pay for something you don’t benefit from. It’s part of our performance-based pricing. If our services aren’t of benefit to you, you don’t owe us anything. You only pay us when we find savings that affect your bottom line. Here’s more ways that our audit can prove to be beneficial.

How do we help reduce your Commercial Waste cost? 

We have worked to construct a system of accountability and investigation that has evolved into a proven reduction formula. 

We help hold hauling companies accountable for their billing information and the contracts they create,  we recognize the ways that they intentionally overcharge, and we ensure a reduced and beneficial contract renegotiation.

 During our audit, we also assess a number of different variables that could contribute to overspending on waste removal, things like improper equipment and location of equipment. You can find five specific ways we do just that here.

You can’t afford not to have our services! 

Our end goal is to save a company all the money that has been unknowingly shoveled out to waste haulers. We find a considerable number of companies struggle with regulating their waste removal spending and are regularly taken advantage of. We strive to 

Free Access: Mini E-Course, "Your 5 Hidden Waste Problems"

When was the last time you heard someone complain about their waste contract? Probably never, right?

This is because most people don’t see the waste problems right under their own nose.

They don’t know they have hidden waste problems - and chances are that you’re one of them.

This is exactly why we created this free mini course. We spell out exactly what you should look for to save.

These issues can steal thousands of dollars from your bottom line, but they can absolutely be prevented.

This course is the first of its kind and is designed for busy professionals who want to save on their company’s waste expenses.

Why this free course is necessary

90% of companies nationwide are overspending on waste by 10-30% every month. Why? Because they don’t know how they’re overspending.

Not many people have the time or expertise to carefully review their waste and recycling contracts before they sign them. You have more important things to do during your day, right?

And even fewer people know what to look for on those contracts - and when they’re hiring a hauler, or renegotiating a current contract.

But there’s another reason these problems are hidden. It’s because most haulers are not going out of their way to charge fairly and set up honest contracts. Haulers are out to make a profit, and they will sometimes go to extremes to ensure they retain your business.

In the course, we talk about how having automatic renewal clauses makes it difficult for you to change vendors. We talk about how not capping price hikes will make you overpay. We talk about how you actually aren’t required to pay ancillary fees.

We take a behind the scenes look at how haulers try to pull fast ones. And we show you what you can do about it.

How this course is delivered

One section of this 7-part course is delivered to your email inbox every three days. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a link with access to all of the videos and additional PDFs so that you can easily and permanently access the course.

This course is:

• Easy. We break down concepts and make it clear how each problem can impact your bottom line.

• Convenient. We’ll email you once every three days, so you can view the videos at your convenience. No rush, and no deadlines.

• Completely free. We’ve distilled 18 years of waste experience in this course and you can access it all for free.

And if you sign up right now, we’ll include an additional free PDF with even more savings tips!

Click here to sign up >>

The Top 7 Resources for Cutting Waste Expenses

There are lots of resources for you to help you reduce your waste and recycling expenses.

But the internet is a pretty big place so we’ve collected the very best resources for you below and summarized them.

Below, you’ll learn how to find and identify ways you can save on your commercial waste management expenses.

Tips for Cutting Waste Removal Costs at the Office - This article covers some of the more detailed questions you should be asking yourself that could lead to savings. Some of these questions include:

• Have you right-sized your schedule and containers?

• Are there options to change providers?

• Do you qualify for regional or national savings?

10 Ways to Reduce Your Waste Management Costs - Here, you’ll learn some tricks of the trade to reduce your waste disposal output by reducing waste volume separating recycling waste from regular trash, garbage, or by-product refuse.

10 Ways to Cut Business Waste Disposal Costs - This blog post has specific actions to take to evaluate whether your current waste management process is truly efficient - and cost effective.

6 Ways Your Business can Cut Commercial Waste Management Costs - Learn a few additional ways to reduce your waste expenses. This is a short, concise guide that can help you quickly identify overlooked savings opportunities.

Stop Wasting! 7 Steps to Cut Costs, Reduce Waste - This one says it’s specific to Florida businesses, but don’t be deterred. The vast majority of tips discussed here are applicable to you regardless of where you live.

7 Tips for Reducing and Managing Waste on Commercial Properties - Did you know that going green and saving money can go hand it hand? This article lays out exactly how to assess your current waste management system, and how to solve hidden waste problems.

How to Save Money on Commercial Waste Management Costs - This post has some innovative ideas for reducing your waste expenses, including sharing waste costs with other businesses!

Which of these was most helpful to you? Leave a comment in the space below!

Infographic: 3 Ways to Get an Airtight Valet Service Contract

What if I told you that ten minutes of your time could yield thousands of dollars in savings? 

Sounds crazy, right?

It’s not actually as crazy as it might seem. By spending just a little time evaluating the long-term efficacy of your valet service contract, you may very well find some ways to save. 

Sound intimidating? It doesn’t have to be! We’ve broken it down step by step below for you. 

The only thing between you and savings is time - and just a little bit of knowledge. 

Let’s look at the process of evaluating your contract. 

1. Know what a good one looks like (and a bad one!)

2. Evaluate contract specifics: service levels, service provisions, rate stipulations, and terms. 

3. Figure out the next steps: renegotiate the contract or get a new provider. 

Ready? Let’s dive in together!

How Valet Services Overcharge You - And What to Do About It!

Let’s face it, no one likes taking out the trash, right?

In the past few years, valet services have become increasingly popular. No longer do multifamily residents have to haul their own trash to the dumpsters - they can just leave it outside their door! A valet employee collects it and disposes of it. Sounds dreamy, right?

Trash valet services are a fantastic amenity to offer to your residents. But they aren’t always fantastic when it comes to pricing. 

As with so many other areas of the waste industry, vendors will often increase prices because they can - or charge fees way above market level!

How can you make sure this doesn’t happen to you?

In this post, we’ll go what valet services are, some ways you might be overcharged, and what you can do to prevent overspending. 

Psst! Ever wonder why you should care about waste in the first place?

What exactly is Trash Valet Service?

Valet services are a really fancy way of saying “doorstep trash pick-up.” In most situations, it happens exactly as is described above. Residents leave trash outside their door, and a valet employee picks it up and disposes of it. 

Different locations will have different frequency needs. Some will only offer valet waste once a week; others offer it every day during the week. 

Most vendors will service your location at night so that your residents aren’t disturbed - and so they have time to place their trash outside their door. 

How You’re Overcharged for Valet Waste Services

Your trash pick-up provider can be sneaky - just like waste haulers, unfortunately! In fact, valet services are one of the top ways that multi-family complexes overpay on their waste expenses.  

Providers often overcharge you because they think they can. Most multi-family management companies don’t evaluate the valet invoices they receive, or they just don’t know how to ensure their contract is in their best interest. 

What you don’t know can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time - but it doesn’t have to!

Your rates may suddenly increase. Every so often, you’ll see an uptick in the rates listed on your invoice. It can be as little as 5%, but it can also be much more. But even a 5% increase compacts over time! If you’re charged an extra $20 each month, during the term of your contract you may overpay by hundreds of dollars. 

Rates can increase as much as 1-2 times a year! Your fees can raise whenever your vendor feels like it. Not all vendors will take advantage of this - but some undoubtedly will. 

We recently worked with a multifamily developer/manager who offered valet services at their properties.  The WCI Project Manager noticed that the price per unit seemed to be awfully high. We were able to introduce a new vendor who was able to save them $28,800/year at just 3 properties!  

Rate increases compound over time. Before you know it, you may be significantly overpaying. 

Because there’s so little information out there about valet services and how they do what they do, you may think it’s normal. Or even something that you should expect. 

But just because everyone else is paying at these rates doesn’t mean you have to as well. 

Make Your Waste Valet Contract Airtight

The two best ways to prevent overpaying? Get a feel for the market, and then evaluate your contract.

Find out:

• What are other area trash valet services are charging? Get at least one or two estimates. 

• What are other area multi-family complexes being charged? Get in touch with a contact, or just make a cold call - you’d be surprised how far a friendly voice and cheerful attitude can get you!  

Then, take a good hard look at your contract and answer the following questions:

• Are price hikes capped or eliminated?

• Are rates locked in?

• How easy is it to get out of my contract?

• Are there provisions for poor service?

It can be expensive to stay in a bad contract - or have continual service issues with no recourse!

In the end, you may need to weigh your options. If you have a terrible valet service provider who is not interested in lowering their prices, it may be worth it to break your contract and get a cheaper service provider. 

Protect your bottom line! 

Fix your valet contract, and you’ll not only prevent overspending - you’ll know how to budget for years to come because you’ll have fixed rates. 

You can have peace of mind knowing that you’re not going to be trapped into paying outrageous prices. And you’ll have a contract to protect your best interests. 

Don’t wait until a price spike hits to worry about your valet services!  

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Do you use valet services at your multi-family property? Thinking about getting them at some point in the future? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

We're celebrating 20 years!

Can you believe it? We're celebrating our 20th anniversary this month!

A few weeks, we sat down with our CEO Tyler Brunson to talk about how it all started and where we're headed!

Join us as we talk about where Tyler first got the idea for waste consultants, what he’d tell himself if he could go back in time, and what plans we have for the future.

Everything You Need to Know About Valet Trash Services

You’re overpaying on your waste by 20-40%, and you don’t have to. In the 18 years we’ve been in business, we’ve found savings for multifamily complexes over 90% of the time. Translation? You’re likely sitting on thousands of dollars worth of savings.

This article will show you how exactly you’re overspending, and how you can start saving. We’ll go over:

• What are valet services?

• How you’re overpaying on them

• How to stop overpaying

The more you know about your hidden valet problems, the better equipped you’ll be to find cost-cutting solutions.

What is Trash Valet Service?

Valet services are doorstep trash pick-up. Residents in a multi-family complex leave their trash in a receptacle outside their door, and a valet employee removes and disposes of it. 

Different locations will have different frequency needs. Some will only offer valet waste once a week; others offer it every day during the week. 

Most vendors will service your location at night so that your residents aren’t disturbed - and so they have time to place their trash outside their door.  

These services have become increasingly popular in the last decade. Taking the trash out isn’t something most people enjoy, so valet services are a valuable added amenity for residents.

How You’re Overcharged for Valet Waste Services

When we complete a waste audit for a multifamily complex, we find the answers to these questions about their valet waste services:

• Are their contract terms longer than three years?

• Are there price caps on the contract?

• Are there no provisions for poor service?

• Does the base rate include additional fees?

• Is pricing unprotected for the first year of the contract?

• Are there other vendors that could provide less expensive service?

• Does the current vendor provide unreliable service?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you’re likely overpaying on your waste services. Below, we’ll go over how in detail.

Valet Waste Disposal Contract Terms

If your terms are longer than three years, you have fewer opportunities to review other area pricing. We limit all client contracts to three years instead of the more typical length of five years. Suppose you’re paying $12 per door for five days a week service on a unit with 100 doors. That means that each week, you’re paying a base rate of $1200, or $4800 every month. Over the course of a five-year contract, you’ll pay $288,000.

But suppose you have a three year contract, and you partner with us right before that contract ends. The first thing we would do is terminate the auto-renewal clause, which lets us keep your current provider while looking for better pricing options in your area. Then, we’d get a few bids from service providers. Let’s assume we find one that provides a rate of two dollars less per door - $10. For the three year contract with the cheaper vendor, you’ll pay $144,000, or $4000 each month.

If you were stuck in a five year contract and not able to sign a new three-year contract with the new vendor, you’d overpay by $115,200! In other words, you’d be stuck at the rate of $4800 every month. And instead of being able to switch to the new provider, you’d be forced to pay $57, 600 each year for an additional two years!

The bottom line? Shorter term on contracts means we have more opportunities to find savings. It gives us the chance to make sure your rates are equitable, and it minimizes your odds of overpaying. (This is also true for your waste contracts as well!)

Are there price caps on the contract?

Providers often overcharge you because they can. Many multi-family management companies don’t evaluate the valet invoices they receive, or they just don’t know how to ensure their contract is in their best interest. 

Rates can increase as much as 1-2 times a year! Every so often, you’ll see an uptick in the rates listed on your invoice. It can be as little as 5%, but it can also be much more. But even a 5% increase compacts over time! If you’re charged an extra $20 each month during a five year contract, you’ll overpay by $1200!

We recently worked with a multifamily developer/manager who offered valet services at their properties.  The WCI Project Manager noticed that the price per unit seemed to be awfully high. We were able to introduce a new vendor who was able to save them $28,800 every year at just 3 properties!  

We offer valet service audits as part of our complete waste audit. Read more about these thorough audits here!

Are there no provisions for poor service?

If your valet services suddenly start missing days of service, you need recourse. There must be consequences in place in your contract if your provider consistently does not provide quality service.

If you don’t have a provision for poor service in your service agreement, you’re leaving yourself open to persistently unresolved issues. You need to know that if your provider consistently misses entire floors or forgets to run the compactor, you can terminate the contract with no penalty. If you don’t have this clause, you’ll likely have to pay a contract buyout in order to end the contract, which usually entails paying several thousands of dollars.

Having this provision in your contract will save you this buyout fee, so it’s absolutely critical to have it.

Does the base rate include additional fees?

Many service providers will tack on additional fees that have little or nothing to do with the actual cost of service. If your contract doesn’t specify that these fees are prohibited, they can charge you for them.

Some additional fees might include an administrative fee, or an overage fee.

Is pricing unprotected for the first year of the contract?

This is another way to protect you and your residents from unexpected price hikes. You can dictate when and by how much the vendor can increase prices.

We expect that service rates will rise over time, but we also know vendor’s proclivity to raise prices as they see fit. As a result, we will ensure our clients’ base rate stays the same for the first 12 months of a contract and is then capped at a certain percentage for years two and three. This allows our clients to budget with incredible accuracy. You’ll know when to expect price increases and by how much every year.

Are there other vendors that could provide less expensive service?

If your rates are too high, you may be getting overpriced services. You could likely be getting the same services for less - in some cases, much less! When we recommend switching valet services, we calculate your contract buyout fee versus the amount you’ll save with a cheaper service. 

Because we’ve been in the waste industry so long, we have relationship capital with vendors who price their service fairly and provide high-quality service. We know who the best service choice will be based on your location and your unique needs. We do all the heavy lifting of getting bids and evaluate option - and not just during your initial contract bid. We do this repeatedly, prior to every valet contract’s expiration. So we know for sure that you’re always getting the very best pricing available to you. Not just right now, but for the duration of your partnership with us.

Does the current vendor provide unreliable service?

If your current vendor is truly awful, their services are not worth your time or money. If they have great rates, but their porters consistently “forgets” to service entire buildings, that’s a problem. If they repeatedly leave a trail of garbage down the halls, that’s also unacceptable. (Both of these things have happened to our clients). When these issues happen time and time again, you’re effectively overpaying your vendor because you’re paying them twice. First, you’re paying them for their sub-par services. But you’re also paying your staff to handle the steady stream of complaints this vendor is eliciting. No company’s service is worth that.

As industry experts, we take over all service issues on behalf of our clients. We document as need be and get resolution for each and every issue that arises. We often prove to be much more effective advocates because of our industry knowledge. We know who to talk to, and how to hold vendors accountable to contract specifics. With us, service issues are one less thing for you and your staff to worry about.

How to Reduce Valet Service Expenses

Simply put: without professional oversight of your waste management, you’ll likely overspend. But you don’t have to. Our clients have found reliable solutions and consistent savings after partnering with us, and you can too.

You need a waste ally to proactively prevent valet issues and overspending and protect your savings. What you don’t know is costing you.

You’re likely being charged at rates that are too high because your contract ensures that your rates will steadily increase, unchecked. You may have the most expensive service provider in town, and you may be locked into a contract that has truly terrible terms. Can you afford not to know for sure how much you’re overpaying?

Sign up for a free consultation to talk about your options!

5 Reasons You’re a Great Candidate for a Utility Audit

Who is the best candidate for an audit? Someone who is short on time - and sees the cost-reduction potential in an audit!

Most people don’t know they’re sitting on savings. What they do know is that they don’t really have the time or resources to find them.

We help companies champion their bottom lines through our exhaustive audits.

Let’s take a few minutes to examine five aspects that make you a great candidate for an audit.

You have:

1. Not evaluated your invoices in the past year

2. Multiple utility meters

3. Expense line items that you can’t explain to your fifth grader

4. Multiple telephone lines 

5. Multiple locations

Sound familiar? If one of these rings true, you’re likely sitting on savings.

Your Hidden Waste Hauler Contract Problems: What they are and what you can do about them - Part 2

Most hauler contracts are written to ensure that haulers make money - and keep making more.

Typical hauler contracts:

1. Allow for unlimited price spikes 

2. Have inaccurate service levels

3. Charges you for additional fees

4. Makes it nearly impossible to cancel 

5. Has no provision for bad service

If your contract was not adjusted and has these default specifications, you will almost certainly pay more than you need to for your waste expenses.

Today, we’re going to talk about the last two contract specifications that cut into your bottom line.

Waste Contract is Nearly Impossible to Cancel 

What’s worse than a bad contract? Being completely stuck in it.

There are two aspects of contracts that make them difficult to exit. First, most contracts automatically renew for long terms - usually five years. So you may realize you want to change your contract, but it can be almost impossible to do so if you are in the middle of a five year term.

Second, contract termination is de-incentivized since it typically includes hefty associated fees. On rare occasions, it may be worth it for your company to terminate their contract and pay the fee so that they can hire a cheaper (or more reliable) hauler. These fees are usually equal to the past six months of charges, which is likely no small amount.

If you do chose to terminate, you have to send a termination letter within a very specific time frame prior to your contact renewing. Most of the time, this termination letter has to arrive at your hauler no more than 180-90 days prior to your contract renewing.

You must send a certified letter - not an email - specifying that you are terminating the contract and/or cancelling the auto-renewal clause.

Cancelling the auto-renewal clause allows you to create a contract with the same vendor with more favorable terms.

Has no provision for bad service

When there are service issues, you should be able to get them resolved quickly and promptly.

When a hauler misses a pick-up, it should be easy to get in touch with them to resolve it. If they’re leaving stacks of garbage around the dumpsters or make a mess every time they service them, the hauler should only need one request to service more conscientiously. But this isn’t often the case. 

Why pay someone for a service who is actually making your life (and your staff’s lives) more difficult? If you had multiple hauler problems with no resolution in sight, you need to know that you have an out if you need one. 

A thorough contract will include steps for resolution - and what will happen if you continue to be dissatisfied with service levels.

You Don’t Have to Overpay for Waste Services

By default, your haulers are going to let these things happen to your contract. But you don’t have to let them. You can solve current problems and prevent new ones from happening - all it takes is effort, and some persistence.

We help companies across the nation find waste solutions and implement changes on their behalf. Don’t be part of the 95% of companies that are overspending on their waste disposal! Drop us a line to learn how you can fix your contract.

Utility Audits: The 4 Ways You Never Knew You Were Overspending

 You need an audit because there’s a 80% chance you’re sitting on savings. This means you’re likely loosing thousands of dollars every year, simply because you haven’t had a free utility audit like ours.

Over the past decade, we’ve found that there are 4 ways that most companies overspend. They:

• Need a different utility rate structure

• Have invoices with errors

• Have overlooked tax exemptions opportunities

• Are paying for services or meters that are not used

Fix this issues, and you’ll likely have a new problem: what to do with the extra $2000 a month that you suddenly have!

You Likely Need a Different Utility Rate Structure

There are three parts to utility rate structures: customer charges, demand charges, and supply charges. 

They’re not all the same. Pick the wrong one and you may overpay. And to be honest, a lot of companies do.

During our audit, we find the rate structure that’s right for you. If we recommend changing your utility rate structure, it’s because you’ll save as the result. If this is the case for you, we will navigate the transition on your behalf and monitor your invoices to ensure your new rates are correct.

We don’t just find ways you can save, we follow through to make sure you can find things.

Your Invoices Have Errors

Few companies have the resources to review and monitor their invoices. It’s one of those things that can easily get lost in the sight of more urgent tasks. But it’s worth it to do because of how much it can save you.

Say you’ve been charged $500 a month for the past six months, but this month you get a bill for $700. You’ll know you need to investigate! Maybe the larger bill is the result of a usage spike - or maybe not.

Know your bill history and these anomalies will stand out to you. 

 You’re Missing Out On Tax Exemptions

When it comes to tax exemptions, it’s often ideal to have expert help. Different business can qualify for different statuses - depending on which state you’re in and which government regulations apply. 

Tax codes can be complicated and overwhelming, but the business that know how to take advantage of the savings opportunities in them can come out ahead - way ahead, in some cases!

 Business utilities can be tax deductible. Some companies can include them on the “other deductions” line item on their tax return. But you’ll want to make sure that filing as such complies with state regulations. 

You’re Paying for Unnecessary Services or Meters

Over time, companies change. They get larger, and responsibilities change hands. In the process, some details can get overlooked. An audit can find services and meters that are no longer in use, but are still being charged.

Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to find these overlooked details!

Utility Audits Yield Savings

Reviewing your rate structure, your invoices, and your exemption options can yield savings.

Utility bills are non-negotiable - everyone has to pay them! But they’re also recurring, so the savings you enact today will affect your companies bottom line for years to come. 

Your Hidden Waste Hauler Contract Problems: What they are and what you can do about them - Part 1

Most waste hauler contracts have hidden problems. Why? Because your haulers don’t have incentive to help you save.

And unfortunately, many vendors in the waste industry are out to make more and more profits. So they’re willing to have you sign contracts that help them do exact that. And many of you have unwittingly signed them.

A typical contract will include the following expensive specifications:

1. Allow for unlimited price spikes 

2. Has inaccurate service levels

3. Charges you for additional fees

4. Makes it nearly impossible to cancel 

5. Has no provision for bad service

Most people simply don’t know that they can ask for additional contract language. They don’t know that they can ask that certain clauses be removed. They don’t know they can edit existing language. So they don’t.

And as a result, they overspend by 10-30% on their waste every month.

This article will help you start saving on your waste expenses by identifying some of the most common contract problems. We’ll go over 1-3 today, and 4 and 5 later in the week.

(Psst! Want to quickly know how good your contract really is? Download our free Waste Hauler Scorecard!)

Price Spikes Allowed On Contract

This is a good example of a contract problem that requires additional language in order to fix. If your contract does not include language that prohibits or limits price hikes, you will almost certainly get them.

Price spikes can occur 1-4 times a year, at rates of 10-15% each time. Most haulers will only increase prices once a year, but some will chose to do so more. And if your contract doesn’t expressly prohibit this there’s nothing to stop them from taking advantage of the opportunity.

If price spikes compound over time, you will pay more than you should. If this happens at multiple properties in a portfolio, you can overpay by thousands of dollars. Don’t let that happen to you.

Take a look in the notes section in one of your contracts. Does it have notes that limit or completely eliminate price hikes? If not, scan the rest of your contract for any similar denotations.

You can read more about these waste issues and others right here.

Inaccurate Service Levels

Service levels tend to be “off” for two main reasons.

First, 70% of companies in the US are paying for too many pick-ups. Why? Because haulers err on the side of too many pickups since more pickups mean more revenue. The more trips to your property that they make, the more they get paid.

So when they’re first evaluating for your needed service levels, they have financial incentive to over-estimate your real needs. Some haulers do this intentionally. Others err on the side of too many pick-ups because too few pick-ups are going to cause major problems quickly.

Second, most haulers don’t tend to re-evaluate your real needs over time. When was the last time your hauler said they should drop service down to twice a week? Or that if you switch out equipment, you could have fewer pickups?

You may have had the correct service levels when your contract began, but your needs may have changed. There may be unnoticed savings opportunities at one or more of your properties because your services have not been thoroughly evaluated in a long, long time - or ever. (This is one of the major reasons why 90% of companies are paying too much for their waste services.)

Haulers simply don’t have the financial motivation to proactively find the solutions that are right for you. They’re there to pick up trash, and they know that more pickups means more revenue.

To make sure you have the right services, find an independent waste consultant who will objectively evaluate every waste stream and find where you’re currently overspending.

Contract Includes Additional Fees

Most haulers will pass on the cost any number of administrative and overage charges to you. A lot companies pay these outright because they think they have to. You don’t.

But unless your contract specifically caps or eliminates these fees, you will need to pay them.

Look for these on your current hauler contract:

• Fuel/environment fees: This fee supposedly helps recoup the cost of gas, but is actually a huge profit center.

• Recycling recovery fee: Covers the fees incurred by hauler to transfer recyclable, but again, is typically a profit center.

• Minimum tonnage fees: Fee charged by the hauler (typically on roll-off or open-top accounts) when a container’s weight upon pickup is below a specific threshold. 

• Administrative fees:  typically charged if a client elects to receive paper invoices instead of electronic delivery of invoices.

• Regulatory Cost recovery fee:  Some haulers, (like Waste Management) will charge this fee to cover costs in other regions - not necessarily yours. They explain it like this:
  “This charge is not specifically tied to such costs to service your account, but instead helps us cover Waste Management’s enterprise-wide costs for host community fees, waste disposal taxes and similar charges to service all WM operating company customers in the United States and Canada, and to achieve an acceptable operating margin.” (From Waste Management, retrieved July 23, 2019.)
  The regulatory cost recovery fee is not “tied to . . . your account.” In other words, you’re helping cover their costs to service other companies. Why should you pay for what you don’t benefit from?

You can reduce or eliminate all of these fees; you don’t have to pay them.  But you have to do it prior to renewing a contract, or getting a new one. It’s extremely difficult to negotiate these fees in the middle of a contract.  

Your Hidden Waste Problems are Costing You

Too many companies don’t realize how prices hikes, inaccurate service levels, and ancillary fees are costing them.

Price hikes are built into the fabric of the vast majority of waste contracts. Inaccurate service levels go unnoticed in most contracts. Ancillary fees are paid without question.

Take the time you need to take to carefully review your contract or contracts. You are likely sitting on significant savings.

Have you ever thoroughly reviewed your contract? Ever heard of any of these waste issues? Let me know in the comments below!