Junk and garbage removal with a truck or trailer
Haul away household garbage and bulky junk in your pickup or trailer and take it to a licensed disposal site.
- C$3k-18k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
An on-demand haul-away service. You collect household garbage, old furniture, renovation leftovers and yard waste from homes, then take it to a licensed transfer station, landfill or recycling depot.
Your first three steps
- Call your local transfer station or landfill to ask about fees, accepted materials and opening hours
- Check with your municipality and province what licence or permit you need to haul waste for hire
- Price a few local competitors, set your per-load rates and post your service in local online groups
Who pays
Homeowners, tenants moving out, landlords, estate cleanouts and small renovators.
How it makes money
Price per load or by volume, plus extra for heavy items or stairs. Your main costs are disposal fees, fuel and vehicle upkeep.
Skills that help
- Physical fitness and safe lifting
- Driving a loaded truck or towing a trailer
- Clear quoting and reliable timekeeping
Watch out for
- Municipal business licence and any waste hauler permit, rules vary by city and province
- Commercial general liability insurance and a vehicle policy that covers business use
- Materials many sites will not take, such as hazardous waste, paint, chemicals and some electronics
- Disposal (tipping) fees that can eat into margins if you underquote
- Secure every load properly and plan for winter weather and slower seasons
- Back strain, so use proper lifting and consider a helper for heavy jobs
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: junk and garbage removal with a truck or trailer
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a junk removal business in Canada?
Startup costs are typically estimated around $3,000 to $18,000, depending on whether you use a pickup or trailer and what you already own. Disposal (tipping) fees can eat into margins if you underquote.
How much can a junk removal business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $1,800 to $9,000, depending on how many jobs you book and your area. It can start at around 10 hours a week. Plan for winter weather and slower seasons.
What licences and rules should I check for junk removal?
Check for a municipal business licence and any waste hauler permit, as rules vary by city and province. Also check commercial general liability and business-use vehicle insurance, and which materials disposal sites will not accept, such as hazardous waste.
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