The Easiest Way To Save On Your Garbage Bill That You Never Knew About

Many people pay to have garbage hauled away from their homes, which may be one of the biggest examples of throwing money away. Garbage collection fees depend on numerous factors, including who collects it, city and county regulations, and what extras you may be tossing out with your regular bags. Move.org states that trash pickup via residential garbage collection costs homeowners $25 to $100 per month. That may account for a 20-gallon or a 96-gallon bin, depending on what services the collection company offers.

In some areas, this is a flat fee. No matter how much trash you toss in the bin and drag to the curb, the cost remains the same. For others, that's not the case at all. The first step is to know what the rules and requirements are for your community. Reach out directly to the trash collection company to find out. Then, consider a few ways to reduce, or even eliminate, your trash collection costs. 

The best way to reduce garbage collection costs is to throw less away, especially if you live in an area with a pay-as-you-throw program. In these neighborhoods, you pay based on the amount of trash you throw away, says the EPA. If you live in a community that offers this, work hard to create less garbage. You can do that by purchasing products with less packaging. Try to recycle more. Put more, appropriate, food waste down the garbage disposal. Take note of the types of items that fill up your trash can each week. How can you reduce these even further?

What about in areas where there is no such program?

Let's say your trash collection company charges a flat fee for a standard pickup of a 96-gallon container. They often charge extra if you have additional items to toss out. Bulk items may cost more, like that old couch, as will anything with hazardous waste materials included, such as an old lawn mower or refrigerator. Try to avoid paying for those extras by donating, selling, or hauling materials away on your own.

Yet another option is to simply call the trash collection company directly to ask them about available discounts. Some organizations may offer programs to help those living on a fixed budget.

You may be able to eliminate trash collection costs by calling the company and requesting that they no longer pick up your materials. Then what do you do as your trash piles up and your can starts to stink?

Haul them to the town dump or landfill on your own. Sure, it will mean an extra trip out, but it could save you a significant amount of money in the long run. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of taking your own trash and materials to the local landfill ranges from $20 to $50 per ton. That's a lot of trash for a relatively small amount of money.

To find out what you could pay in your area, call the landfill directly to ask. Many operate on a county-wide basis, but your city's utilities department should be able to help you too. Typically, landfills will take all of your trash, including that hot water heater, the mounds of debris from the construction project you just completed, and even bagged piles of yard waste.

Of course a final important step, whenever possible, is to participate in recycling programs within your community. This is a simple way to reduce the cost of getting rid of what you don't want, while hopefully allowing some of it be used again.