With limited regulation in the waste management industry, vendors can include self-centered contractual language that often includes hidden fees. Without the trained eye that a broker brings, these fees can go unnoticed or seem mandatory to businesses! A national waste broker can help companies find reputable services and cost savings, consolidate vendor contracts, and negotiate pricing packages.
Reduce Waste
One of the main goals of running a green business is to reduce waste. It can be done in many ways, from reusing packaging and plastic containers to encouraging employees to bring reusable coffee mugs and water bottles to work. Another way to reduce waste is by implementing a take-back program for old electronics, which is often more cost-effective than dumping them in landfills. Waste brokers use their industry knowledge to help businesses achieve sustainability goals by reducing waste disposal costs. Waste brokers understand how much vendors typically charge for waste management services in their area, and they then use this information to negotiate better packages and pricing with vendors on behalf of their clients.
With limited regulation in the waste management industry, vendors can write self-serving contracts that include “hidden fees” that can be difficult for businesses to identify without a waste broker’s experience and a trained eye. Waste management vendors often use these extra fees to cover rising costs, which may go unnoticed or seem mandatory to customers.
Save Money
Waste brokers help businesses save money by comparing prices and finding the best deal. Additionally, many waste management companies offer consolidated billing, which helps save on expenses by grouping all costs into one statement. Waste reduction is a great way to reduce costs, especially regarding landfill disposal fees and raw materials. By conducting a waste reduction assessment, you can identify potential production changes that could increase efficiency and reduce the amount of waste your business generates.
Since the language used in waste management contracts can be complicated, working with a waste broker provides extra guidance. It can prevent the unintentional breach of contract terms or costly surprise charges that might arise without this additional layer of oversight. For larger companies with multiple locations, a waste broker can also help to consolidate vendor contracts. It simplifies the waste storage and disposal processes while helping maintain consistent service levels. It is a great way to help save on waste management costs and makes the process much more efficient for all departments.
Consolidate Contracts
Time and again, we see expense managers sacrificing visibility for convenience regarding waste management. They may have limited procurement resources or think they can make a difference in other areas of expenses. However, the broker path needs to offer a healthy alignment of interests from a transparency standpoint. For example, when a broker sends a consolidated invoice, it only tells you the amounts that the broker has charged you for services rendered by all of your mysterious haulers. It needs to provide a breakdown of what is paid to these haulers, line-by-line.
This lack of transparency severely reduces a customer’s leverage against cost increases. Brokers need the interest or incentive to advocate for their customers in the marketplace. They don’t stand to benefit from defending their clients against price hikes. In addition, the language in many broker contracts makes it difficult to dispute fees or overcharges. It is a big reason why many of our clients switch to a managed service provider that can help improve spend visibility and leverage for their entire portfolio.
Negotiate Pricing
A waste broker can help businesses save money by streamlining procedures and negotiating contracts with service providers to secure cost savings. They also assist in contract consolidation across several sites, which reduces invoice processing time and offers a single point of contact for all waste management requirements. With minimal regulatory oversight, many waste management vendors can add a wide range of additional fees to their customer’s contracts without warning. Many of these additional fees are designed to eat into customer profit margins for reasons that may seem arbitrary or even predatory. Waste brokers know to look for and understand these charges. They’re familiar with how to dispute them and who to contact. A waste broker can also ensure that the quality of service from a particular waste management provider stays consistent and in line with contractual agreements. It eliminates the risk of unintentional contract violations, avoiding additional fees and costs that could have been avoided.
Save Time
The waste management process can be complicated, requiring an immense amount of time. Waste brokers can alleviate this burden by acting as a single point of contact for all your business’s waste management needs. If a hauler misses a pickup, they will report this to the service provider and handle all communication and problem-solving, leaving you with more time to focus on your business. As skilled negotiators, waste brokers can secure cost-efficient services aligned with your company’s sustainability goals. They can also save businesses time by consolidating contracts, ensuring uniform pricing, and a seamless waste disposal process. Waste brokers can also assist with analyzing invoices to identify valid and invalid fees or overcharges. They also know how to dispute these charges and will not let waste management companies rip you off.
