Trash Service

[mom-from-missouri]

I typically pay our trash service one year at a time. This past year, I saved almost $100 doing so, as I was locked into the old price. Our trash company raised rates last Feb, an additional $8.50 a month, due to the increase in fuel costs. But, since I had prepaid, I did not get the bill for the increase. Our neighbors pay it monthly and told me of the change. I just paid the bill for next year, and now I have paid the additional $102 increase for 2023. Our gasoline prices have come down some the last 3 months, but our diesel prices have not. If you are wondering, our trash service is $23 a month for pick up once a week.

[disneysteve]

Gas prices are down dramatically, lower than they were a year ago. I've passed a couple of stations that are now under $3. I think $2.91 is the best I've seen.

Diesel prices aren't linked to regular gas prices. The demand for diesel has grown while the demand for gas has fallen. The taxes on diesel are also much higher than they are on gas.

[mom-from-missouri]

I have been paying $2.39-$2.49 a gallon for gasoline. Our diesel went from $3.98 to its current price of $4.98. Here on the farm we can use "ruby red", which is dyed diesel, which is cheaper, and it isn't taxed. However, the trash company of course can't. I feel for the independent truck drivers. We know several who have parked their trucks and taken a different job.

[disneysteve]

I have been paying $2.39-$2.49 a gallon for gasoline. Our diesel went from $3.98 to its current price of $4.98. Here on the farm we can use "ruby red", which is dyed diesel, which is cheaper, and it isn't taxed. However, the trash company of course can't. I feel for the independent truck drivers. We know several who have parked their trucks and taken a different job.

It's definitely an issue and is behind a lot of price inflation since trucks are how stuff gets to stores so they have to up the price to cover the cost of transporting everything.

I don't know anything about trucking. Can those truckers not charge more for their services?

[ua_guy]

The trucking industry is basically a race to the bottom and hard-working people (drivers) are caught in the middle. I could write a book on it.

It's interesting to hear how garbage pick-up service varies so much from place to place. We have one provider who is contracted through the city. If you want service, you "choose" them. You pay whatever rate they command. And the republican representatives for our district have blessed contracts which don't require them to refund for missed pick-ups. We went without garbage pick-up for more than a month while the company had a dispute with a driver's union, and we were still required to pay for that month of service. Theft by no other name.

[mom-from-missouri]

The trucking industry is basically a race to the bottom and hard-working people (drivers) are caught in the middle. I could write a book on it.

It's interesting to hear how garbage pick-up service varies so much from place to place. We have one provider who is contracted through the city. If you want service, you "choose" them. You pay whatever rate they command. And the republican representatives for our district have blessed contracts which don't require them to refund for missed pick-ups. We went without garbage pick-up for more than a month while the company had a dispute with a driver's union, and we were still required to pay for that month of service. Theft by no other name.

We have several companies to choose from. I live in the country, but in town they also can choose who they want as well. Our companies in this area are locally owned, within the same county, and no union. My parents live elsewhere and their rate for a quarter is what I pay for the entire year, for the same service.

[crazyliblady]

I typically pay our trash service one year at a time. This past year, I saved almost $100 doing so, as I was locked into the old price. Our trash company raised rates last Feb, an additional $8.50 a month, due to the increase in fuel costs. But, since I had prepaid, I did not get the bill for the increase. Our neighbors pay it monthly and told me of the change. I just paid the bill for next year, and now I have paid the additional $102 increase for 2023. Our gasoline prices have come down some the last 3 months, but our diesel prices have not. If you are wondering, our trash service is $23 a month for pick up once a week.

Our trash company kept increasing their rates, and it was not yearly like you might expect. It was more than once a year. We got to where we were paying about $29.00 a month, but had to pay for 3 months at a time. I was finally able to convince my husband to get prices of other companies. Part of the expense in the old company was a fuel charge and the company is located 27 miles away. We changed to a less expensive and local company and our cost went down almost $10.00 a month. I wish they had an option to pay ahead for a year at a cheaper price. I would totally do it.

[ua_guy]

We have several companies to choose from. I live in the country, but in town they also can choose who they want as well. Our companies in this area are locally owned, within the same county, and no union. My parents live elsewhere and their rate for a quarter is what I pay for the entire year, for the same service.

Ours is Republic Services out of Arizona, and we live in WA State. I have nothing but awful things to say about that company and being a hostage (customer) of theirs. They gave me a can with a hole in the bottom -- and we're not allowed to supply our own. Two years later, multiple requests for replacement have been ignored, and it still has a hole. I'm not talking like a pinhole. The bottom is so worn that the two front corners are missing. Their company has missed pick-up service so many times in the last year I think I'm done with them in 2023. I'll start doing a dump run 1-2 times per month on my own.

Sorry...they make my blood boil every time I think about them.

Give me back my trash service I had in the Midwest. Small companies, local offices, good rates, and lots of competition keeping them all honest.

[disneysteve]

The trucking industry is basically a race to the bottom and hard-working people (drivers) are caught in the middle.

Not to go way off topic but I'm curious about this. Do the trucking companies not have control over what they charge their customers? If the price of fuel goes up, can't they raise their rates?

It's interesting to hear how garbage pick-up service varies so much from place to place. We have one provider who is contracted through the city.

Same here, and anywhere I lived. Garbage and recycling collection is contracted by the city/township. Residents don't pick a provider. Is choosing your own more of a small town/rural thing? I've only ever lived in good size cities or suburbs.

[mom-from-missouri]

It isn't a city thing where I am, but it may be in some places.

[mom-from-missouri]

Ours is Republic Services out of Arizona, and we live in WA State. I have nothing but awful things to say about that company and being a hostage (customer) of theirs. They gave me a can with a hole in the bottom -- and we're not allowed to supply our own. Two years later, multiple requests for replacement have been ignored, and it still has a hole. I'm not talking like a pinhole. The bottom is so worn that the two front corners are missing. Their company has missed pick-up service so many times in the last year I think I'm done with them in 2023. I'll start doing a dump run 1-2 times per month on my own.

Sorry...they make my blood boil every time I think about them.

Give me back my trash service I had in the Midwest. Small companies, local offices, good rates, and lots of competition keeping them all honest.

Republic left our area. They bought out a ma and pa one and raised the rates. Everyone left them for another company, and they closed this location.

Republic is also a choice where my parents live, and people are leaving them like crazy. My parents just left them last week and went to a local one where they live. They raised their rate from $32 a month to $88 a month then kept missing their (rural) road for weeks at a time.

[Fishindude77]

We've got 2-3 to choose from. Have had Republic for several years no with no complaints.
The county has a couple mixed recycling bins around the area where you can drop off; paper, plastic, glass and metals but it's just "feel good" program, the stuff gets hauled to landfill and dumped with the rest of the trash and buried.

[ua_guy]

Not to go way off topic but I'm curious about this. Do the trucking companies not have control over what they charge their customers? If the price of fuel goes up, can't they raise their rates?

Trucking companies do raise prices when fuel goes up. Larger companies can typically weather increases better because of their volume discounts on fuel and other contracted services. To be competitive, it’s about who can dig deeper to provide a lower cost. Little guys have tighter margins. They’re not purchasing or maintaining huge fleets.

I’m forgetting the economic term but a lot of trucking is a generic service, like moving freight. If the product gets delivered, it really doesn’t matter how it gets there. So if someone offered the same service for $0.01 less, that’s who they pick. Some companies will take a loss just to drive other competitors out. This is how a lot of OTR drivers basically end up literally living on the road in their truck, too. Drivers with CDL’s are everywhere. There is no truck driver shortage. There is a shortage of people willing to put up with the industry. Those who remain…it’s a Race to the bottom—see who who work for less.

The money gets better in specialty trucking like heavy haul or snagging a public works/prevailing wage job in dump trucking.

[bjl584]

Trucking companies do raise prices when fuel goes up. Larger companies can typically weather increases better because of their volume discounts on fuel and other contracted services. To be competitive, it’s about who can dig deeper to provide a lower cost. Little guys have tighter margins. They’re not purchasing or maintaining huge fleets.

I’m forgetting the economic term but a lot of trucking is a generic service, like moving freight. If the product gets delivered, it really doesn’t matter how it gets there. So if someone offered the same service for $0.01 less, that’s who they pick. Some companies will take a loss just to drive other competitors out. This is how a lot of OTR drivers basically end up literally living on the road in their truck, too. Drivers with CDL’s are everywhere. There is no truck driver shortage. There is a shortage of people willing to put up with the industry. Those who remain…it’s a Race to the bottom—see who who work for less.

The money gets better in specialty trucking like heavy haul or snagging a public works/prevailing wage job in dump trucking.

A coworker of mine used to work for a 3PL, and it was a constant bidding war. Prices changed wildly from second to second. It was almost like the old trading pools on the floor of the stock market

[riverwed070707]

I had to go look mine up. We do not have a choice of service, and its paid on the water bill which I don't ever look at the itemization on unless its higher than expected. $14/mo for trash pick up 1x/wk and recycling every other week. Not too bad. I looked back a year ago to see if there had been price increases and interestingly enough, recycling service increased about $1/mo but trash actually went down 30 cents.