Dive Brief:
- Houston startup Smash My Trash LLC is offering construction and demolition companies a new trash compression technology and a smartphone app that they say will make trash management easier and less expensive. Managing partner Ryan Haskin explained, "It's a glorified backhoe on a truck. You back up, and it smashes the trash in the dumpster. On average, if you're hauling a dumpster five times before, you'll only have to do it one or two times."
- Site managers can use the patented compaction technology on the back of the truck to compress trash within a dumpster. The clients can then continue to work. Once the dumpster is full of compressed trash, the managers can then use the app to call a driver who will be on site within 24 hours to remove the trash in the truck.
- Haskin says the service costs $300, as opposed to $450 to remove waste from a site. He's planning to launch early in 2016 with 10 to 12 trucks under contract with Haskin's Your Container Solutions. Haskin says a Houston billionaire has helped finance the idea.
Dive Insight:
Construction and demolition projects generate tons of waste that needs to be managed efficiently.The Construction Waste Management Market 2015-2019 global report says the global market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.67% by revenue from 2014-2019.
Smash My Trash hopes to make that management easier and less expensive. And its app is part of a growing "smart" trend in the industry.
Other trash-related software has been recently developed, including trash startup Rubicon Global, which uses software to manage a network of independent waste haulers that bid on picking up trash from businesses. It also plans to launch an app for consumers that will offer on-demand trash pickup, similar to Uber's ride-service app.
And Bigbelly Inc. of Needham, MA recently announced its new Connect smart waste and recycling system, which encompasses hardware, software, installation, training, customer support, warranty, cleaning, inspection, and system monitoring for a monthly fee. Bigbelly also allows customers to customize its system, and some Bigbelly stations even host Wi-Fi hotspots.
