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How the Uber of trash collection can save you money
(REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)
Rubicon Global looks to connect homes and businesses with trash hauling companies the same way that Uber connects cabs with riders. Rubicon is already working with large companies to help them reduce their garbage collection costs, and will roll out an app for homeowners to do the same in the next few months.
With Rubicon’s app, instead of putting the garbage out for collection on scheduled days, residents would simply request a trash pickup when they need one. This would likely reduce their collection costs by cutting their number of pickups. When a pickup is requested, Rubicon routes the request to its network of trash haulers. Rubicon prioritizes haulers that have trucks nearby, so the trash can be picked up within a few hours.
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Leveraging the internet for waste management is already a smart city use case. Cities like Barcelona have reduced operating costs by placing sensors in their public trash bins to notify city services when the bins are full. Rubicon’s service could similarly make trash removal for homes and business cheaper and more efficient.
Rubicon makes its money with commercial clients based on how much it can save them by reducing their number of pickups. It also makes money by selling recyclables to a network of business partners. Pricing for residential users will be based on the volume of trash picked up and the availability of nearby garbage trucks. The app for residential users is in beta testing right now and is expected to launch in the next few months.
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