THE SHORT ANSWER
Reconcile supported annual earnings, necessary owner replacement, actual material/disposal scope and included trucks/containers. BizBuySell’s broad national 2021–2025 waste/recycling sold sample reports a 3.14x median owner-discretionary earnings multiple. It is not junk-only, hazardous-waste-specialist EBITDA, a current appraisal or an automatic route, permit or landfill premium.
Use the broad historical sold earnings table
BizBuySell includes collection, junk, dumpsters, septic and other waste/recycling activities plus franchise units.
(BizBuySell: waste management and recycling sold benchmarks)| 2021–2025 reported sold owner-earnings statistic | Multiple |
|---|---|
| Lower quartile | 2.14x |
| Median | 3.14x |
| Mean | 3.31x |
| Upper quartile | 3.88x |
Compare actual service/material, territory, owner work, period, equipment and delivery terms with relevant sold transactions. Do not automatically apply the upper quartile to recurring pickups, landfill access or route density. A broad marketplace sample does not verify pricing for this business.
Support annual service costs and owner replacement
Reconcile pickup/job/route records to annual accounts, including labor, travel, disposal fees, equipment maintenance, subcontracted work, credits and shared overhead. Separate achieved recycled-material proceeds from forecasts. Container rental revenue needs actual placed-unit, pickup and cost evidence.
SEC adjusted-measure guidance is an issuer-reporting presentation reference.
(SEC: non-GAAP financial measure interpretations)Have the accountant define starting period/measure, actual deducted expenses and future purpose. Draws, debt principal, truck purchases and every renovation or repair are not automatic adjustments. Include necessary quoting, dispatch, driving, facility coordination and complaint replacement using the earnings-basis guide. Annual earnings and cash after financing/investment are distinct.
Review material, facility and account conditions
EPA’s hazardous-waste overview distinguishes covered transport and storage responsibilities.
(EPA: hazardous waste transportation overview)Have responsible authorities and qualified advisors review actual materials, operating records, destinations and proposed ownership conditions. The overview is separate from a complete material determination, disposal approval or full state-program review.
Read actual facility/customer/franchise/provider restrictions, rate changes, renewals, termination and assignment conditions using the consent register. Examine actual lost accounts, collection problems, incidents and unresolved obligations. A permit, recurring contract or destination relationship does not independently establish usable buyer rights or a fixed premium.
Define included assets and service obligations
SBA sale guidance addresses agreement assets and liabilities.
(SBA: closing or selling a business)Verify trucks, trailers, bins and dumpsters by ownership, liens, leases, location, condition and necessary investment. Identify customer/provider property separately. Establish what the price includes before adding all equipment again at replacement cost.
Define receivables, payables, deposits, open pickups, placed units and complaints using the delivery guide. Separate annual expense, necessary investment, debt/payoff and closing cash. Use the waste-service seller guide for preparation. The scenario tool computes inputs; it does not certify an appraisal or establish a buyer price.
Owner questions
Does the sourced 3.14x median describe junk-only EBITDA?
It describes historical owner-discretionary earnings in a broad mixed waste/recycling category including franchise units.
Do permits automatically add a fixed premium?
Verify actual scope, continuing conditions and relevant economics with appropriate authorities/advisors.
Should every dumpster be added to earnings-based value?
Define included assets and commitments first to avoid double counting.
Sources and review scope
Source review completed . The sources below support the identified concepts or rules; they do not validate hypothetical amounts or a valuation of your business.
- BizBuySell: waste management and recycling sold benchmarks
Broad national 2021–2025 reported sold waste/recycling category includes junk, collection, dumpsters, septic and other services plus franchise units. Primary sold owner-discretionary earnings table reproduced; asking/revenue and other summaries separate. Not junk-only, a specialized hazardous-waste sample, EBITDA or current appraisal.
- SEC: non-GAAP financial measure interpretations
Staff interpretations last updated December 2022: recurring operating costs and distinguishing EBITDA from adjusted measures. SEC reporting context, not a universal private-sale rule or automatic acceptance of add-backs.
- EPA: hazardous waste transportation overview
July 31, 2026 overview: covered off-site hazardous waste, identification, manifests, transport/storage distinctions and EPA/DOT responsibilities. Published as scoped transaction-review questions only. Full linked regulations, state programs, actual material determination, disposal permission, technical handling/emergency procedures and sale transfer not reviewed.
- SBA: closing or selling a business
Valuation approaches, sale agreements, assets and ownership transfer.
Confirm tax, legal, accounting and lending applications with the relevant professionals. Historical market observations describe the stated period and reported sample.
This is educational material. Industry figures and program rules can change; check the original sources and your advisors before applying them to a transaction. Calculator scenarios are not appraisals, lending decisions, or offers.
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