There is one on every busy street corner, there are a few in most restrooms, and there’s very likely one under each desk in the office. Despite their conspicuousness, however, waste receptacles tend to garner very little attention. If they are doing their job well, they go unnoticed. It would be a mistake, however, for distributors to overlook this important product category.

Despite their basic function, waste receptacles are a surprisingly complicated category. From rugged concrete to sleek stainless, there are hundreds of designs and thousands of SKUs available. This is not a one-size-fits-all product and helping end users narrow the choices is not an easy task for distributors.

“In choosing a waste receptacle, the good news is that there are hundreds of sizes, configurations and materials from which to choose,” says Gregg Battaglia, vice president and CFO of Witt Industries in Cincinnati. “The bad news is that there are hundreds of items from which to choose, and a thorough search can take lots of time.”

There are many considerations when choosing a receptacle. What is the budget? Are aesthetics important? What and how much is being collected?

“If you find out it is a high-volume area, then you lay out the high-volume receptacles you have,” says Tony Maiuro, product manager for Continental Commercial Products in St. Louis. “Then you whittle it down from there. Is it indoors or outdoors? Does it need to be fire safe? Which one visually fits their environment?”

The best way to sell a client the proper waste receptacle is to conduct a site visit and evaluate the particular needs of the facility. Distributors should see for themselves the amount of foot traffic various areas receive and spend time with facility managers to better understand their top priorities (budget, appearance, staff efficiency, etc.).

“Distributors can be heroes to their clients by making sure a thorough site assessment is done beforehand,” Battaglia says.

Although every site has unique needs, there are some commonalities among market segments.

Commercial Markets
In many office environments, appearance is a top priority. Trash cans must not only work well, they must also look great. Aesthetics are particularly important in first-impression areas and public spaces.

To meet these needs, manufacturers offer receptacles in polished chrome, stainless steel and brass. Fiberglass receptacles also come in a myriad of colors, sizes, shapes and textures to match any décor.

“In a high-rise office building they are looking for form with function and they will pay a premium for it,” says Dennis Redman, marketing manager at Bobrick in North Hollywood, Calif.

Most commercial buildings require a full range of receptacles, including outdoor trash cans, smoking management solutions, recycling stations, hands-free restroom receptacles, heavy-duty containers for cafeterias or break rooms, and small under-desk bins.

While the basic needs may be similar from building to building, the capacities required will vary. A high-rise building may need 18-gallon receptacles in the restrooms while a small office suite may need only 2-gallon bins. Also, some offices must meet fire regulations, which may require bins made of compliant materials, such as metal or certain plastics.

Unlike many other market segments, commercial buildings often place a strong emphasis on recycling. This is becoming even more important as the green movement continues to gain momentum and more facilities are seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Distributors can help a facility earn LEED points by assisting in the creation of a recycling program. To make it easy and convenient to recycle, encourage the facility to purchase color-coded bins that sit next to the general waste containers.

“Recycling containers come in all sizes and shapes to suit both indoor and outdoor applications,” says Christen Brooker, product manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products in Winchester, Va. “Some recycling systems even include multi-lingual word labels and highly visible iconic labels that are universal cues for end-users.”

Healthcare
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities have most of the same waste receptacle needs as commercial buildings. The big difference, however, is the nature of the industry, which is subject to many regulations. For example, receptacles need to be California State fire marshal (CSFM)-listed in order to meet fire regulations.

It is also important that receptacles comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards regarding exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

“Lid options are an important consideration,” Maiuro says. “In healthcare, they typically don’t want to touch a lid because of the risk of cross-contamination, so step-on products are popular.”

Step-on containers are used in most areas, but always in areas where medical waste originates, including patient rooms, labs and emergency rooms. These receptacles are typically red, the universal color for medical waste, and can be customized to include a biohazard symbol. Hospitals may also want one container that can be used to collect, transport and ship waste.

Healthcare facilities also require linen collection bins.

“You need a high-capacity waste collection system that’s easy-to-use, fits in and out of rooms easily and ideally, and offers easy-access rear doors that allow for fast and easy loading and unloading,” Brooker says.

Food Service
In the foodservice market, durability and capacity are key factors. Restaurants require trash cans large enough to handle a busy dinner rush and that are made of materials that can withstand leaks and resist stains.

To meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food codes, receptacles may also need to include hinge lids that completely cover waste when closed. To reduce worker’s compensation claims, it is also important that these bins be easy to transport to the Dumpster.

Space is often at a premium in food service facilities, particularly in back-of-house areas. Smart designs, such as wall huggers or corner units, which offer large capacities but take up minimal floor space are a good sell.

In addition to bins for food waste, restaurants may also need hands-free receptacles for restrooms and hamper-type containers for uniforms and towels. Outdoor bins are especially important and it is critical that they have hoods or some other restricted opening to reduce odor and pest issues. As more cities and states adopt anti-smoking laws, outdoor smoking receptacles are becoming more prevalent.

“Be sure to provide waste receptacles specialized for cigarette disposal,” says Kaiko Zureich, executive director of marketing for Impact Products, in Toledo, Ohio. “Laws prohibiting smoking indoors bring the opportunity to sell receptacles outside.”

Hospitality And Government
In the hospitality industry, form and function are given equal weight because first impressions really matter. A bin must work well (customers don’t want to see trash) and match the décor (customers don’t want to see the trash can either).

Outdoor receptacles and smoking urns should be weather resistant, durable, easy to maintain and pleasant looking. In-room wastebaskets should be small, decorative and fire-safe. As in the healthcare industry, linen collection requires high-capacity bins that fit in and out of rooms and elevators.

Other facilities in the tourism industry, such as amusement parks or sports arenas, are focused almost exclusively on function. These high-traffic facilities need large, durable waste receptacles and lots of them.

Although how a trash can performs is typically more important in these areas than how it looks, there are options to meet both needs. For example, a new line of trash cans could be stamped with a team’s logo and feature helmet-shaped lids.

“They stand out in the crowd and get noticed by fans, improving customer usage,” says Stephen Wolford, president and CEO of Fan Cans, in Phoenix, Md. “It’s a billboard with real utility.”

Since 9/11, security has been a big concern for government buildings and other high-profile facilities, such as airports. To comply with a new Department of Homeland Security directive, choose see-through receptacles that allow all contents to remain visible. Many government buildings also prefer under-desk bins with side-entry slotted lids and keyed locks, which provide maximum security for confidential or sensitive materials.

“For government facilities and airports, containers that are corrosion- and scratch-resistant, fire-safe and ADA compliant are the best fit,” Brooker says.

After finding the best waste receptacle for the building, the sale isn’t over. Disposable liners, metal cleaners and cleaner caddies that attach to portable receptacles all offer opportunities for extra sales or product bundling.

Becky Mollenkamp is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer and a frequent contributor to SM.




POSTED ON: 12/1/2007