On-demand Trash Collection Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Imagine if instead of dragging your trash to the curb on Tuesdays and Thursday, trash pick-up was available on-demand? Well that idea is just a few months away from reality if 7-year-old Atlanta-based Rubicon Global’s residential app is successful.

The company is testing a residential app that enables on-demand trash collection that according to Wired will be released in “a few months.” Just as Uber is used to order and pay for a ride, consumers will be able to use the app to schedule and pay for trash pick-up. Rubicon co-founder and CEO Nate Morris credits the idea to founding Uber CTO Oscar Salazar who recently joined as the company’s chief technical adviser.

Sustainable Business Model

Rubicon is already known for helping enterprises reduce the cost of garbage collection. But it doesn’t own a fleet of garbage trucks. Instead, the company connects businesses with its network of small, independent haulers through its technology platform. Additionally, Rubicon helps businesses divert materials in their waste stream that would otherwise end up in landfills, to Rubicon’s recycling and upcycling partners across the country.

Scaling Up

The new app will extend this level of efficiency to residential trash collection. When a consumer places an order, the system prioritizes local haulers that already have trucks in the area thus ensuring that each truck’s capacity is being fully utilized. This enables small, local haulers to compete against industry behemoths like Waste Management.

While pick-up may not be instantaneous when the app launches with response times varying from a few hours to the next day, Rubicon hopes to be able to ensure pick ups within one half hour of each request.

Rubicon’s innovative approach is not only good for business, it is also good for the environment. And with the exception of the large players in the market that stand to be disrupted, many would find it hard to resist.