BROOKINGS Hauling trash containers to and from the curb can be a distasteful chore but a new business in Brookings hopes to lessen that burden. For $25 a month, Can Mules will lug your garbage and recycling receptacles out for pickup and back again each week.
It helps improve your comfort. If its 100 degrees outside and you dont want to go outside because its too hot, or its 30 degrees below zero, or if youre wheelchair-bound that could be another challenge, Nicholas Chappell, founder of Can Mules, said. And a lot of people are just busy. A lot of people are working one or two jobs. Theyve got kids playing sports. Their time is spent juggling so many things. You forget some of the simple things like taking the trash out, which causes more inconveniences for you down the road.
He said hes seen similar businesses elsewhere and was surprised South Dakota doesnt have services like this.
So theres another company based out of Arizona called Can Monkeys and they do pretty much the same service. And I thought, you know thats a really good idea, Chappell said. South Dakota has some older age groups. And especially in the wintertime when its icy out because Arizona doesnt have that problem, but South Dakota does honestly, even for someone who is not older when its 30 degrees below zero, who wants to go outside and put the trash out?
He said this is the kind of service he wished his own grandmother couldve hired.
So my grandmother shes passed away now but in her older years she only had like one lung, because she had cancer, and she had chemo and old age in general you know? She just wasnt able to do lots in her last year or so, Chappell said. She was healthy enough not to be in a nursing home, but there were small minor chores that would get away from her. With only having one lung, shed lose her breath after a short walk to the driveway.
He hopes Can Mules proves a helpful and affordable service for residents of all ages.
So we charge $25 for the basic trash can and recycle can. If you have multiple trash cans, well just charge an additional $5 per can for the entire month. So that factors out to less than $2 a trip. Its more expensive to go get Burger King than this, Chappell said. Well take the trash can out if trash day is on Tuesday, well bring it out for you Monday night. We bring it back to the house Tuesday, a little in the afternoon. You got to give time for the city to go through And say your recycle day is Friday so Thursday night, Ill be going out pulling recycle bins out, and then bring them back on Fridays.
He said hes also willing to expand and offer other customized services.
If you have multiple bags of trash like lets say you did forget for the last two weeks taking the trash out; Im willing to haul that for you, for a small fee, Chappell said. Something else would be like at apartment complexes sometimes they would offer like a trash valet. Like between six and eight oclock, you put your cans out by the apartment someone will come with like a bin and throw all the bags in them and get rid of them for a price.
He said timely control of waste accumulation is good for both peace of mind and property values.
You put all of this money in property, investing all this money. What happens when you have a tenant whos not as vested in the property as you are they might let the trash pile up, Chappell said. Next thing you know, you have rodents or bugs. Now you have to pay for fumigation or pest control, plus the damage they can cause. And in an apartment complex, that can spread to other places.
He said anyone interested in either his basic service or in customized jobs can reach out for a consultation at 605-651-8738 or learn more at https://canmules.com.
Im covering Brookings, and Im willing to do Aurora and Volga as well, Chappell said. If you think about it, Im coming to your household four times a week bringing the can out and bringing it back both trash can and recycling. So thats sixteen times in a month for sixteen visits, $25 is extremely cheap. And you dont have to risk the winter weather, and you dont have to worry about just forgetting.
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