What size bin?
Answer three questions. Get a starting size and the maths behind it — so you can check it, and so a supplier can't oversell you.
How we work it out
We multiply your seats, staff or units by a planning rate — gallons of mixed recycling (paper, cardboard, containers) per unit per week. We divide by your pickups, add 25% headroom so the lid closes on a busy week, then pick the smallest standard size that fits: carts up to four 96-gallon carts, then 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8-yard front-load bins. One cubic yard is about 202 US gallons.
| Business | Planning assumption |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | 3.5 gal per seat a week |
| Café or quick-service | 2.5 gal per seat a week |
| Office | 4 gal per staff a week |
| Retail store | 10 gal per staff a week |
| Grocery or convenience | 14 gal per staff a week |
| Clinic or healthcare | 4 gal per staff a week |
| Auto shop | 15 gal per service bay a week |
| Apartment or condo building | 18 gal per unit a week |
| School | 0.8 gal per student a week |
Questions people ask
How accurate is the bin size calculator?
It gives a starting point, not a measurement. It uses planning assumptions per seat, employee or unit. A one-week waste audit, or your hauler's lift records, will always be more accurate.
How many 96-gallon carts equal a 2-yard bin?
About four. A cubic yard is roughly 202 US gallons, so two yards is about 404 gallons — just over four 96-gallon carts.
Is it cheaper to get a bigger bin or more pickups?
Usually a bigger bin with fewer pickups, because each lift has a cost. But space, smell (for organics) and overflow fees matter too — ask suppliers to price both.