Pricing · 5 min read
Price Per Yard (PPY), Explained
The simple math RecyclingIT uses to compare your permanent trash service to local market ranges.
The number that makes bills comparable
Hauler invoices rarely make comparison easy. One site pays $485 for two 4-yard containers twice a week; another pays $680 “plus fees” for mixed refuse and recycling. Price per yard (PPY) normalizes that noise.
The formula
Monthly yards = containers × size (yards) × frequency per week × 4.33
PPY = monthly charge ÷ monthly yards4.33 is average weeks per month (52 ÷ 12). Frequency must be the scheduled permanent pickups—not occasional extras.
Example
- 1 × 2-yard container
- 1 pickup per week
- Monthly charge $100.21 (service + recurring fees)
Monthly yards = 1 × 2 × 1 × 4.33 = 8.66 PPY = 100.21 ÷ 8.66 ≈ $11.57 / yard
Market bands
Topline compares your PPY to location-driven ranges:
| Band | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Under market | Below typical local range—still confirm fees and service quality |
| At market | Inside the expected band for the region |
| Above market | Paying more than peers for similar permanent service—priority for review |
Ranges differ by market (for example, Chicago metro vs. broader Midwest). Admin, permit, fuel, and environmental fees belong in the monthly charge when they recur every bill—otherwise PPY understates what you actually pay.
What to pull from a bill or agreement
- Recurring commercial service amount
- Recurring city/admin/permit fees tied to the container
- Container size and quantity
- Pickups per week (look for codes like 1XW = once weekly, 2XW = twice weekly)
- Ignore one-time delivery, extras, and on-call pull fees when estimating base PPY—unless they happen every month
Why this creates urgency
Above-market PPY is a clear, finance-friendly reason to open a Permanent Services conversation—especially when a cancellation window is approaching. Upload a bill or agreement in Topline and we calculate the band for you.
Put this into practice
Run a Permanent Services review: upload a bill, see your market band, and plan the transition.