Doorstep trash collection services boom in China

Doorstep trash collection services, priced at 15 USD per month, are booming in China, catering to busy office workers and the elderly.

A new convenience service — doorstep trash collection — is rapidly gaining popularity across China, particularly among busy professionals and older residents. This service, part of a growing "ready-made economy", addresses the practical needs of urban dwellers who often struggle with traditional waste disposal schedules.

The service typically involves individuals advertising on social media, offering to collect trash bags placed outside customers' doors. Charges range from 3-5 yuan (0.45-0.75 USD) per collection, or 100 yuan (15 USD) for a monthly package. The process usually requires no direct contact; employees collect pre-tied bags every two days and send photos to homeowners as proof of service.

Many customers find the service essential for various reasons. Ms. Li, 30, from Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou city, frequently returns home after 10 p.m. and is willing to pay someone to take her trash downstairs every two days. In Hangzhou, Ms. Wang, a local resident, notes that the service helps solve improper waste disposal by those who miss designated collection times or prefer to avoid social interaction. Similarly, a patient with depression finds it necessary to avoid meeting others, while Shanghai office workers use it because they often miss the morning and evening opening hours of designated trash collection points.

Despite initial skepticism about paying for a simple chore, most users affirm a genuine need for the service. Recognizing this market potential, Ms. Fei, 29, in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, formed a group with six young people to provide trash collection. Her team serves clients such as young people living far from collection points or an elderly person on the 4th floor of a building without an elevator. Mihan, another service provider in Hangzhou, received over 20 orders within three days of launching, attributing success to reasonable costs that attract office workers willing to pay to save time.

Alongside trash collection, other convenience services are also growing, including parcel collection for 3-5 yuan per item, and childcare for 50 yuan per trip. Ms. Fei identifies this as a serious business direction and plans to collaborate with residential community management to expand services for the elderly.