Turn Trash Into Cash: How to Start a Weekly Trash Can Cleaning & Curb Service Business
No one likes dealing with dirty, smelly trash bins – and most people don’t even think about cleaning them until the stench becomes unbearable. But here’s the opportunity: what if you became the go-to person in your neighborhood who handles this nasty job…and gets paid every single week to do it?
If you’re looking for a simple, low-cost, no-experience-needed income idea, this might be one of the easiest recurring-revenue businesses you can launch right in your community.
What’s the Business?
You offer a service where you do one (or both) of the following:
- Trash Can Cleaning – Clean, rinse, and deodorize people’s garbage bins.
- Curbside Bin Service – Pull their bins to the curb on trash day, then return them after pickup.
It’s a dirty job, but the beauty is in the simplicity. You don’t need a storefront, employees, or a fancy website. Just some basic tools, a little hustle, and neighbors who’d rather not touch their bins.
Why This Works
This business taps into a universal truth: people hate dealing with trash.
Whether it’s elderly folks who struggle with mobility, busy parents juggling a million tasks, or short-term rental hosts who want to keep things fresh and clean…there is real demand for someone to take this off their plate.
You’re solving a small but annoying problem in their lives, and charging a small, totally reasonable fee to do it.
How You Make Money
There are two main revenue streams:
- Curb Service Only: $5–$8 per week
- Cleaning + Curb Package: $12–$15 per week
- Monthly Deep Cleans: $25–$40/month
Here’s what your income could look like:
- 20 clients on full weekly service at $15 = $1,200/month
- 25 more on curb-only service at $6 = $600/month
Total = $1,800/month working part-time
And because trash comes every week…you’ve got built-in recurring revenue.
How to Start This Week
This business is super fast to launch. Here’s how to get rolling in just 7 days:
- Day 1: Pick a few neighborhoods – ideally places with long driveways, HOAs, or lots of retirees.
- Day 2: Make a simple flyer or Facebook post offering a $5 first clean or free trial week.
- Day 3: Grab basic supplies – gloves, hose, nozzle, and a basic pressure washer (you can get one for under $300).
- Day 4: Start booking your first trial clients and lock in weekly slots.
- Day 5: Set a route and schedule for trash days.
- Day 6: Perform the work and take a few “before and after” photos.
- Day 7: Ask for referrals and lock in weekly or monthly plans.
Boom. You’re in business.
Upsell Opportunities & Expansion Ideas
Once you get rolling, there are plenty of ways to grow:
- Add pet waste pickup
- Offer driveway pressure washing
- Sell deodorizer pods for extra freshness
- Create seasonal packages for spring/summer deep cleans
- Partner with HOAs, Airbnb hosts, or property managers for recurring bulk deals
- Eventually, build routes and hire helpers to scale your reach
Final Thoughts + Free Business Plan
This isn’t glamorous work, but it’s profitable, repeatable, and completely doable with zero experience. And most importantly, it solves a real problem for real people.
If you’re ready to turn this idea into action, grab the free downloadable business plan below. It walks you through everything step-by-step.
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