Waste Receptacles

Waste receptacles are used everywhere: schools, malls, offices, roadside rest stops, hospitals, nursing homes — the list goes on and on. And waste receptacles can be almost any size, shape or color ranging from a small plastic wastepaper basket to a much-larger outdoor stone container. Distributors sell them all, but not all to the same types of facilities, they explain.

“Offices tend to want nicer trash receptacles,” says Thomas Chambers, treasurer and purchasing manager of Valley Janitor Supply Co., Inc., Hamilton, Ohio.

He explains that the purchasing habits among his buyers have remained steady. In addition, sales volumes have neither decreased nor increased significantly. However, two things have impacted sales.

“A few years ago, there was a major increase in recycling containers. Now what has changed is that a lot of places are no longer smoking, so no one wants urns anymore,” he says.

United Receptacle’s sales manager, Layton Dodson, agrees. “One major selling trend over the past couple of years has been the effect of new smoking laws. There used to be a greater demand for smoking urns and snuffers. However, most have turned to outdoor receptacles,” he says.

Every public building has a building manager looking to keep the entryways and exits litter-free — including free of cigarette wastes, he explains.

Terry Williams, maintenance supply manager for I Supply Co., Fairborn, Ohio, agrees that sales have not significantly increased or decreased in recent years.

He explains that I Supply sells to several market segments including schools, industrial facilities, food service facilities and retail stores.

“For example, landlords and property managers are looking to purchase both indoor and outdoor receptacles, whereas office buildings might need more indoor cans,” Williams says.

“Eighty percent of our waste receptacle sales come from schools,” says Richard Sheldon, president of Sheldon Supply Co., Detroit. He has noticed an emerging demand for more outdoor receptacles.

“Before, you’d see an empty barrel with just a liner in it. Now schools want the more expensive receptacles with tops on them, especially around football fields,” he says.

He’s not exactly sure what to attribute this growing trend to, although he speculates that larger budgets might allow for greater purchasing power.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All
When facilities purchase waste receptacles they look to fulfill certain criteria, yet different buildings look for different things.

“Indoor facilities often look at the aesthetics — the color, the look, the shape of the container, etc. Buildings that are looking for outdoor models buy for durability and the prevention of vandalism. Thus, they look for heavier cans that can withstand weather, often purchasing the larger plastic and stone models,” Williams says.

“Hospitals look for something that will hold up in the environment; i.e. containment of germs, cleanability,” says Kevin Carlson, president of Mission Janitorial Supplies, San Diego.

“Generally, folks want a combination of attractiveness, and to know that it is a good size for the environment where it’s being put,” he adds.

Chambers agrees that many facilities want durable cans that can resist kicks and dents. Again, each facility has separate needs.

“Schools usually don’t want cans. They look for durable plastic brands that often include recycling options. Nursing homes, however, usually buy metal containers,” he says.

“For interior waste receptacles, schools want smooth surfaces that allow for easy clean-up,” says Sheldon. “We sell a lot of Rubbermaid-type of cans for the classroom.”

“Image is another increasing trend,” says Pottsville, Pa.- based United Receptacle’s Dodson. “A business’s image is important as businesses get more competitive. United Receptacle emphasizes waste receptacles as furnishings — buildings want something that is attractive and decorative.”

The bottom line may even be that certain colors look nicer, but don’t work any better.

“All cans are very useful no matter what they look like,” says Williams. “All trap trash and do what they are supposed to do.”

Specialty Items
Besides the size, shape and overall look of a trash can, facilities also are interested in the types of specialty receptacles distributors offer. Buyers are looking to match a can to the facility’s needs. Knowledgeable distributors can help fulfill those needs by offering advice and information.

“Nursing homes want hard UL type of cans. (Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization). Fast food restaurants want garbage cans that have a place on top for empty trays,” says Chambers.

He doesn’t believe, however, that specialty cans are very popular in his area, especially when it comes to recycling containers.

“Valley doesn’t sell nearly as many of recycling receptacles as we used to,” he says. Simply put, he thinks that trend has passed.

“The market is not out there like it used to be. I think that many facilities already have the [recycling] cans they need. Also, I think they create too much trouble for custodians to empty,” he adds.

Although Sheldon Supply doesn’t have a large market for specialty items, it does sell one type: oil/waste cans for the school auto-shops. Although these aren’t big sellers, they make up for it with repeat sales, according to Sheldon.

On the other hand, I Supply’s Williams believes that specialty cans including those for recycling are becoming more popular.

Many customers use these types of cans at home and are taking the same type of environmental attitude to the workplace, he says.

He says they often sell recycling cans. Other popular containers are hazardous waste cans, which are important to hospitals.

Besides patrons who are getting involved in a recycling philosophy, everyone seems to be more health-conscious and aware of special needs.

“Those who buy for public restrooms are looking for containers that are not placed on the floor, but are still accessible for those in wheelchairs,” Williams says.

He refers to those types of receptacles as ADA (American Disability Act) containers. “This issue is on everyone’s mind and customers want to recognize this regardless of what type of building it is,” he adds.

Selling a System
Besides selling customers on the aesthetics of a trash receptacle, distributors are often faced with the task of selling customers on product features.

“Aesthetics is always an issue that janitorial suppliers have to deal with, waste receptacles are just a part of that,” says Williams. “When buying a can for indoor use, buyers are interested in aesthetics, yes, but also if it will fit where they have space available for it.”

What other factors do buyers look for when purchasing waste bins? It depends on the location of the waste receptacle — indoor or outdoor.

“When buying cans for outdoor use,” says Williams, “then durability is the main consideration.”

And durability is an important issue because cheaper cans tend to crack, whereas indoor can quality depends more on the situation. Cheaper might be all right for indoor office use and last just as long as a more expensive can because the can’s wear is not as high, according to Williams.

Sheldon agrees that for outdoor receptacles, customers buy for durability more than anything else.

“Fires [caused by cigarette butts] are a big concern for schools. They want a receptacle that can contain a fire. They definitely don’t buy plastic for outdoor use,” he adds.

Savvy distributors take all these factors into consideration when selling to the buyer.

“We sell a system,” says Williams. “Waste receptacles sales can be compared to walk-off mats. We sell them cans for the outside, for the inside, for entrance ways/foyers, etc.,” he adds.

Other distributors think of waste receptacle sales in terms of dollar amounts.

“Buildings have to have them,” says Chambers. “It just depends on how much they want to spend.”

Although buyers might have a certain budget in mind, it might not be discussed with the distributor.

“It is more a matter of durability and color,” he adds. “Repeat customers know what they want, so we don’t have to mention price that much.”

“Spending more for the classroom isn’t really an issue — all plastic containers are about the same,” Sheldon says. “But for hallways, fireproof cans are very important; however, they are also very expensive.”

Many times receptacles that offer more features come with a higher price tag. Dodson explains that some selected options are more expensive.

“Receptacles that have a fire approval, that are UL listed, are very important to buildings because [they] make the inside of a building a safer place,” he says. “Outside, materials are also important. For example, steel cans or stone or concrete exteriors can protect against weather, corrosion and damage.”

The Recycling Bin
Even though recycling receptacles often fall under the “specialty” category, they tend to receive separate attention from buyers and distributors.

Just about all buildings that have waste containers also have some sort of recycling container for patrons. Recycling bins are found in break rooms of offices, student and teacher lounges of schools and universities, in hospitals and in industrial buildings, according to Williams.

“Industrial facilities employ recycling containers on a much larger level than most office buildings, for instance,” says Williams. “They have containers for plastic, for metal and for paper and also for aluminum cans in break rooms.”

Not all distributors have found recycling to be a busy segment of the industry.

“We sell very few recycling receptacles to schools,” says Sheldon. “I suspect it’s because they bag their trash.”

Even though not all distributors are selling recycling bins in great quantity, the market for such containers is still very much in existence. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to report that Americans — more than ever — are recycling whatever they can, and smart distributors know this is more than a passing trend.

“Selling recycling receptacles is a fair business — although it’s not as large as you might imagine,” says Dodson. “The actual compliance is limited. It is mostly government buildings, universities and corporations that want to buy recycling receptacles. But the average business is not spending the money.”

“Recycling is a big issue, but most companies are using some type of recycling service that provides the bin,” says Carlson.

Additional types of containers that have become very popular are recycling receptacles that shred paper.

Williams explains that the container only allows for paper to fit and be shredded through a slot.

“These types are only designed to allow paper to be discarded. They are very, very popular in offices and schools,” Williams says.

Take Out the Trash
Waste receptacles are a part of almost every jan/san distributor’s sales floor, and knowing which container best fits a facility is a major part of this selling market.

Sheldon explains that his company has a continuous market with schools they service. “They are continuously buying more — if one cracks, it’s easier to replace it,” he says. “They keep a stock inventory of waste receptacles.”

“Determining which can to sell to a customer depends on the application. Not every customer has the same needs,” Carlson says.