How to Make Money Picking Up Trash

As you know that there are tons of side hustles out there. From selling things on eBay to selling ebooks, the opportunities are endless. Did you know that you could make money by picking up trash? I’m not lying. Brian Winch makes a living doing it. I had the chance to interview him and ask some questions. Keep reading to find out how he does it.

I decided that providing a service to businesses while working outdoors appealed to me. I tested the market by contacting my prospects – property management companies – to gauge any interest in my service. I developed an elevator pitch to quickly introduce myself and explain to my prospects how they could benefit from using my service. I would forward more details to prospects wanting to learn more. I wasn’t trying to sell from my initial contact, but to start a conversation that would hopefully lead up to a sale. I started on a shoestring budget. I used the money I made from my first client to grow my business. I started out with 3 properties that I serviced as a side hustle while I continued to work my full-time job.

My dad was a janitor for the public school system who always had a side gig to supplement his income. He would occasionally take me along with him when I was a kid to assist him. We cut grass, shoveled snow, and in one case cleaned up litter outside a nearby shopping plaza. It was almost as easy to do as going for a walk! We would show up early in the morning before the shops opened and walk the parking lot, sidewalks, and surrounding landscape and sweep up any litter material we found into our litter collection tools. When we were finished we dumped the contents from our tools into the waste bins on-site and go home to get ready to go to work (him) or school (me). I didn’t have much money, skills, or education to start a business as a side hustle. I realized the best opportunity for me to start was some sort of cleaning service. I recalled my experience working alongside my dad and chose “picking up trash”. Unfortunately, he unexpectedly passed away 2 months before I started my hustle so I didn’t have his experience to call upon.

2021 marks 40 years. My business has survived a few recessions and now a pandemic. My service has been deemed an essential service during the pandemic. With people discarding their used PPE (masks, gloves, wipes) in addition to typical litter (empty drink cups, fast food or candy wrappers, cigarette butts) my service has never before been as vital to the ongoing maintenance of commercial properties.

I was working a full-time job at a sporting goods store. I didn’t mind the work but couldn’t see many opportunities for career advancement. I didn’t really enjoy the 9-5 routine and working within the same 4 walls every day.

You need to be persistent and patient. You need to reach out to your prospects and explain the benefits they receive by doing business with you. You may not get a client in your first communication. You need to follow up. You need to enjoy working outdoors and get satisfaction from providing the service you are providing in your community – keeping your community litter-free. Provide exceptional customer service. Anyone can clean, Not everyone takes the time to communicate with their clients. Developing business relationships with your clients leads to long-lasting contracts and referral business. It doesn’t take much to do so. When you’re at a site cleaning and you notice things like fresh graffiti, burned-out lighting, property damage, illegal dumping or vandalism inform your clients first thing in the morning. They appreciate this reporting and love that you are acting as an extra set of eyes for them.

Yes. I had never been in business before. I had to learn how to set up a legal business structure, name my business, open a business bank account, set up an accounting system, collect taxes, market my business, create various business forms, etc. I found plenty of “how-to” information back in the day from my bank, government, and book stores. It’s far easier now with the internet than when I started. I experimented with various tools to clean up litter. I found one that I continue to use today as it is still the best available. It allows me to quickly and easily clean up the most amount of litter in the least amount of time.

Sometimes I find wallets, purses, phones, or items of clothing. I make my best effort to return these items to their owners. A few times each month I find paper bill money. A  5, 10, 20 dollar bill is always welcome. It seems people are careless with their money and stuff a bill or 2 in their pocket with their keys. When they pull their keys from their pocket then out comes their money unbeknownst to them. I once found a crumpled dollar bill and when I unfolded it discovered a $100 bill inside! Imagine my surprise. The most money I ever found was $600 rolled up in a tight roll next to a waste bin.

I work 5 days a week (M-F). Most of my buildings are serviced M-F, but some are only 3 (M,W,F). I have an army of people who also work throughout the week and also on the weekend.

You dress according to the weather and do the best you can. This service is not a seasonal one as people litter year round regardless of the season or conditions outside.

Check out the brief video to see how this work is performed. If it is of interest then get started by ordering the book, Cleanlots – America’s Simplest Business. I offer free support as my way of giving back to a business that has provided very well to me.

If you work your business then your business will work for you. You decide how big or small you wish your side hustle business to be. Some are content with a side gig that generates an extra $1000 – $5000/month. Others, such as myself, go full-time and gross 6 figures each year. We do $650,000 – $700,000/year.

Have you thought about picking up trash as a side hustle?