Waste Recycling Business

3 Waste Recycling Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 7th, 2024

If you have a passion for saving the planet and going green, starting a waste recycling business may be the right route for you to take. Waste recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be trashed and processing them into new products.

Starting a waste recycling business is not only profitable, but it can also benefit the community and the environment. To start a waste recycling business, research the industry and determine the costs involved. Then, register the business and equip your waste recycling facility.

In this list, you'll find real-world waste recycling business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a waste recycling business that makes money.

1. SOCO Waste ($2.76M/year)

Dustin Maze, the founder of SOCO Waste, came up with the idea for his waste removal business after realizing that he loved being outside and working in the waste management industry. After doing extensive research on the market and equipment needed, he launched SOCO Waste with a focus on providing excellent customer service and affordable prices. With a loan of $35k, Maze started with a pick-up truck and 5 dumpsters, and the business has since grown to have 51 dumpsters, two roll-off dumpster delivery trucks, and two residential garbage trucks. They are projected to reach $700-800k in sales for 2020.

How much money it makes: $2.76M/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
How many people on the team: 32

How I Started A $41K/Month Residential Waste Removal Service

This case study showcases the story of a locally owned and operated residential waste removal business based in Colorado Springs started with a pick-up truck and a $35k loan, which now has 51 dumpsters, two roll-off dumpster delivery trucks, two residential garbage trucks, and is projecting $700-800k in sales for 2020.

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2. Junk B Gone ($1.2M/year)

After acquiring over 20 years of experience running various service businesses, Seattle-based entrepreneur Ben Sharpe bought Junk B Gone in January 2023. By integrating essential tech tools like CRM and Jobber, he nearly doubled the company’s revenue and expanded the team from 8 to 12, focusing on mundane business excellence.

How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $250K
How many people on the team: 12

How We Acquired A Junk Removal Business And Grew It To $1.2M Per Year

Case study - Ben Sharpe acquires Junk B Gone, a leading junk removal service in Seattle, and nearly doubles its size based on revenue, expands the team from 8 to 12, and implements key tools like CRM, Jobber, and website improvements to drive growth and improve customer experience.

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3. Trash and Go, LLC ($276K/year)

Osvaldo got the idea for Trash and Go, LLC when he moved to an upscale apartment complex that offered valet trash services, a concept he found intriguing and new. His initial stint working part-time for a large valet trash company exposed him to inefficiencies and inspired him to think about how he would run the business differently. He began researching and calculating the costs, realizing the significant profit margin between what he was paid and what the company charged.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic left Osvaldo and his wife working from home with little physical activity, reigniting his interest in the valet trash industry. He spent time continuously thinking about how he could improve the service. In May 2020, leveraging his accounting background, he decided to invest a small amount of money to establish his own LLC, Trash and Go. Initially, he faced numerous rejections, which were discouraging, but he learned the importance of perseverance and seizing unexpected opportunities.

Osvaldo's journey underscores the value of persistence, learning from industry flaws, and the willingness to start small but dream big. Each obstacle taught him resilience and adaptability, crucial traits for any aspiring entrepreneur.

How much money it makes: $276K/year
How much did it cost to start: $6K
How many people on the team: 9