Solid Waste Collection Revenue Benchmarks
The average solid waste collection business in the United States generates $3.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 6,813 solid waste collection businesses in the U.S., employing 221,309 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $68K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Solid Waste Collection Business Actually Do?
Trash and recycling haulers picking up from residential and commercial customers. Include national players (WM, Republic) and regional/independent haulers. Landfill tipping fees are the biggest expense.
Who buys: Residential customers via municipal contracts or direct, commercial customers for dumpster service, contractors for roll-offs.
Average Revenue
$3.7M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$115K
per year
Total Businesses
6,813
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$300K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$68K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
2.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Solid Waste Collection Charge?
Trash haulers charge monthly for residential and per-yard for commercial dumpster service.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Residential curbside (per month) | $25–50/month |
Bulk pickup (per item) | $15–75 |
Roll-off dumpster (10 yd, 7 days) | $300–650 |
Roll-off dumpster (30 yd, 7 days) | $500–1,000 |
Commercial dumpster (weekly service) | $150–800/month |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete solid waste collection business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a solid waste collection business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the solid waste collection industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $277K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $2.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $208K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $139K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $762K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $300K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
9.17%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.71%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.63%
annual
Businesses Closed
690
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Solid Waste Collection Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
6 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a solid waste collection business do?
- Trash and recycling haulers picking up from residential and commercial customers. Include national players (WM, Republic) and regional/independent haulers. Landfill tipping fees are the biggest expense. Residential customers via municipal contracts or direct, commercial customers for dumpster service, contractors for roll-offs.
- How much do solid waste collection charge?
- Trash haulers charge monthly for residential and per-yard for commercial dumpster service. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average solid waste collection make per year?
- The average solid waste collection business generates $3.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $300K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many solid waste collection businesses are there in the US?
- There are 6,813 solid waste collection businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 221,309 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a solid waste collection business?
- Startup costs for a solid waste collection business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the solid waste collection industry?
- The average employee in the solid waste collection industry earns $68K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The solid waste collection industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.6% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (9.2% entry vs 6.7% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 71% of solid waste collection businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 690 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the solid waste collection industry earns $68,302/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 10,623 establishments employing 181,814 people, the typical business has about 17 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The solid waste collection industry has grown 39% since 2000 (from 5,793 to 8,038 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Solid Waste Collection revenue with other industries: