Most business owners and managers would agree that looking at a waste invoice can be confusing. It’s not always clear when a specific charge shows up on your bill. You may also question why your business is being charged extra for something in the first place. The frustration is that you often don’t notice these charges until you find them on your bill. Below we break down the most common charge types that can show up on a waste invoice and provide tips for identifying various charges and service fees.
common WASTE BILL INVOICE charges
To bring transparency to your invoice, here are some common charge type definitions, some tips for how to handle them and ways to proactively manage them in the future:
DRY RUN
Otherwise known as a trip fee, a dry run is a charge issued to a customer to cover fuel costs and route delays if the hauler is unable to load or offload. Some common reasons that might result in a dry run fee:
- Container is blocked: There are obstacles in the way preventing the hauler from servicing the location, such as a vehicle or piles of snow blocking the container, or a locked gate.
- Container is entirely or mostly empty: A hauler may issue a small trip fee and wait until containers are full as a cost-saving measure. This is so that you aren’t charged more for your provider hauling an empty or nearly empty container to the landfill.
- Container relocation: If a hauler needs to return to relocate the container, a trip fee will be issued.
What You Can Do: Stage equipment in an area that’s clear of vehicles or other obstacles that could block dumpster placement, and unlock gates so the delivery location is accessible to the driver. For delivery, provide detailed instructions to make sure the driver places the dumpster where you need it. You may also want to look into meter-based scheduling options to optimize your haul schedule.
CONTAMINATION FEE
Contamination occurs when an item or material makes its way into a recycling container but is difficult, or impossible, to process at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). A single contaminated material can end up sending an entire batch of recyclables to the landfill. This can happen by accident or through wishycling, which is when we think a certain material can be salvaged, but ends up causing more harm than good when placed in a recycling container. This will lead to containers not being serviced and the customer being charged a contamination fee.
What You Can Do: Train your staff on the importance of avoiding contamination and proper disposal processes for waste and recycling materials. Every recycling facility accepts different materials, so it's beneficial to explain what materials your business can recycle and the best practice for doing so. You can also request additional signage or training materials to help employees recycle correctly.
EXCESS YARDAGE CHARGE
A business will incur an extra yardage fee when containers are filled beyond capacity. Waste or recycling exceeds the rim of the container, preventing the lid from closing. This may lead to trash being left on the ground or beside the container.
What You Can Do: Ensure you have enough container space to accommodate all of the material you are producing, and educate employees about the importance of discarding materials appropriately (e.g., breaking down cardboard boxes to preserve space). Your service team should be willing to work with you to ensure that your container size and service frequency both meet your needs.
CONTAINER REMOVAL FEE
A container removal charge happens following the termination of a contract, a business no longer needing the equipment and/or the business deciding to swap haulers.
What You Can Do: During implementation, choose the proper container sizes to accommodate your waste generation and eliminate the need to remove it down the road.
CONTAINER DELIVERY FEE
A one-time charge per container that is applied for the delivery of a new, temporary or additional container, per the customer’s request.
What You Can Do: Revisit your pickup schedule to see if it’s meeting your needs. Your business may require more frequent pickups or an on-demand pickup schedule to eliminate the need for extra containers.
EXTRA PICKUP FEE
This charge type is applied when you require collection service on top of what is already in your service agreement.
What You Can Do: Choosing the right container can go a long way in helping you get the job done, and mitigate the need for extra pickups. You can also plan for busy seasons by talking to your account rep in advance to adjust pickup schedules.
LATE FEE
Late fees are charges assessed monthly against any past-due balances. Your containers may not be serviced until the balance is paid.
What You Can Do: Pay your bills on time, and consider enrolling in auto-pay to avoid late fees.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BILL?
While we’ve explained some of the most common charges that can be applied to your invoice and how they differ from one another, you may still question charges or feel uncertain looking at your bill. The reality is that you may be working with a provider that has no problem charging you for fees that you could otherwise avoid. In such a case, that may be a signal to work with a partner such as RoadRunner, who works on behalf of customers to identify all charges from third-party haulers, offers guidance so that you’re handling waste management and recycling with confidence and provides full transparency into what’s on your bill each month.
