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An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

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Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#231

Post by cjrp »

xadhominemx wrote: post #136
mtanski wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's lots of reasons that you have beyond the normal amount of garbage or difficult to deal with garbage. It's really hard to get it removed if you need it on a short notice. A lot of municipalities have limits refuse. For example in NYC you can no longer get rid of electronics in the regular trash. You're supposed to take them to a place that can deal with it. Fair enough. The problem is that there aren't many pl…

>There's lots of reasons that you have beyond the normal amount of garbage or difficult to deal with garbage. It's really hard to get it removed if you need it on a short notice. Why not use 1-800-GOT-JUNK or a similar service?

That's the first thing I thought, doesn't this exist? Side note, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK was on an interesting episode of NPR's "How I Built This" podcast (http://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=523277830:523967624).

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#233

Post by Broken_Hippo »

austenallred wrote: post #157
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, actually, at least for basic pickup. I'd support it for big/dangerous items as well. It is really easy to let that trash bill go if you get poor, and folks tend to dump things when convenient or burn things that shouldn't really be burned to get rid of their trash. They leave large items in rentals they are moving out of and put dangerous items in with the regular trash. Sure, communal pickup is flawed - but so…

It seems like this is in addition to, not necessarily a replacement for, communal pickup

The trash bill for the poor is that for weekly pickup. Luckily, many poor folks live in cities, where the cost is included in taxes. Get outside city limits in somewhere like Indiana, and you have to pay.

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#234

Post by gambiting »

pdelbarba wrote: post #131
usrusr wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that "(no idea what the margin is)" is what OP meant by running the numbers. Mostly a "pamper early adopters with VC money" operation I think, possibly with a profitability story (that may or may not turn out to be realistic) centered around high real estate value areas: in those places where the ground occupied by a gas pump and its accompanying infrastructure plays a significant role in the local fuel…

I don't disagree at all. My numbers should be in the ballpark but generous. If someone has more data sources they can link to, fire away. I think the real takeaway here is that even at ~$400 per 25 cars refueled, it's not a super great market to be in. It's also kind of like starting a printing company during the 21st century (cough cough Vista Print). Yes, there's a sliver of margin to be had with aggressive automat…

On the other hand, it's likely that petrol stations will begin to close as electric cars become more and more widespread, but until literally no one uses petrol any more(and that will take a very long time) you can always make business by delivering fuel directly(Oh you have a 2010 vintage ICE car and the nearest operating petrol station is 50 miles away? we will bring fuel to you!)

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#236

Post by faux_intellect »

t0mbstone wrote: post #10

Startup ideas inspired by Always Sunny in Philadelphia? http://itsalwayssunny.wikia.com/wiki/The_Gang_Recycles_Their... What's next? An Uber-like service that will deliver gasoline directly to your car that is parked in your driveway? Hmm... Come to think of it, that would actually be pretty sweet. I would never have to stop and fill up my gas tank! It would just always be full! A gas delivery truck would come in the…

Nice one. The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis is my favorite episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#237

Post by tonyedgecombe »

just4themoney wrote: post #197
pmalynin wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://www.filld.com/

This actually is kind of an "obvious" idea once you think about it considering that this is exactly what my oil company does. They monitor my oil tank and come fill it when its about half empty and leave the bill on the door and you can optionally keep a credit card on file for autopay if you want. The convenience factor is really on point, I no longer think about oil at all, its always taken care of.

>I no longer think about oil at all

Which is what they want, or rather they don't want you thinking about phoning round for the best price.

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#238

Post by tonyedgecombe »

Tharkun wrote: post #90
jelder wrote: post #5

This is great but what if, hold on, we paid taxes.

I pay roughly a 50% income tax, and in spite of that municipal garbage collection is, well, garbage. Regular waste is easy enough: weekly collection is OK. Larger items which can be incinerated are OK-ish: need to make an appointment two weeks in advance, and pay by weight. Anything else and I'm screwed. I'd like to get rid of a metal ladder, but it can't be incinerated. I'm supposed to take it to a municipal recycli…

Just put it on craigslist for free, someone will want it.

Re: An ‘Uber for garbage’ picks up steam, and $11.7M in Series A funding

#240

Post by baby »

Tharkun wrote: post #90
jelder wrote: post #5

This is great but what if, hold on, we paid taxes.

I pay roughly a 50% income tax, and in spite of that municipal garbage collection is, well, garbage. Regular waste is easy enough: weekly collection is OK. Larger items which can be incinerated are OK-ish: need to make an appointment two weeks in advance, and pay by weight. Anything else and I'm screwed. I'd like to get rid of a metal ladder, but it can't be incinerated. I'm supposed to take it to a municipal recycli…

I hear you, that's why people dump shit in the street, or that's why people pee everywhere in the occidental world (very few public toilets).
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