About Us

Who We Are

United Handy Can™ is a Nonprofit Social Enterprise business established to provide employment for adults with special needs including physical and developmental disabilities, autism and Down syndrome. Our mission is to provide sustainable employment for adults with special needs while meeting the needs of local communities.

According to the ARC organization, a company serving adults with disabilities for 100 years,” the majority of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are either unemployed or underemployed, despite their ability, desire, and willingness to engage in meaningful work in the community. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in January 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.8% compared with 70.1% for persons with no disability”.

What We Do

Our team of professionals takes your trash cans to the curb before the local garbage truck arrives, and returns them back to your house after they are emptied. Our service is convenient, inexpensive, and addresses many community concerns and issues.

Our Story

When securing work opportunities became a challenge for Bobby, Steve’s younger brother with special needs, Steve decided to take matters into his own hands. What could Bobby do to earn a paycheck while meeting the needs of his local community?

One morning while heading out to get his morning coffee, Steve noticed his elderly neighbor pulling out her trash cans from her backyard. The lady yelled out “Hey Steve, I can barely move this thing, will you help me?”

In the midst of Steve taking out his neighbor’s trash cans to the curb, the idea hit him – “Bobby could do this!” Not only for this neighbor, but for many others who struggle to take their trash cans to and from the street on trash pick-up day.

For Steve’s neighbor, the convenience of hiring someone to take her trash cans to the street was a huge relief. For other neighbors it was the comfort of knowing the trash cans were not left on the street late at night.

And that’s how United Handy Can™ started… allowing special needs to serve your needs.

Our Services

Our dedicated team handles your trash pickup so you don’t have to.

Benefits to Customers

Convenience: The service eliminates the need for residents to remember trash pickup schedules and physically move the cans, saving time and effort.

Accessibility: This is particularly beneficial for elderly or disabled residents who may have difficulty maneuvering heavy or bulky trash cans.

Safety: Reduces the risk of injuries related to lifting or moving heavy trash cans, such as back strain or trips and falls.

Weather Protection: Residents can avoid exposure to adverse weather conditions, like rain, snow, or extreme heat, when dealing with their trash cans.

Timeliness: Ensures that trash cans are placed out and returned promptly according to the collection schedule, avoiding missed pickups.

Benefits to Customers

Neighborhood Aesthetics: Helps maintain a tidy neighborhood appearance by ensuring trash cans are not left out on the curb for extended periods.

Security: Reduces the likelihood of trash cans being stolen, lost, or vandalized when they are promptly returned to a secure location on the property.

Animal Control: Properly stored trash cans can reduce the attraction of pests like raccoons, rodents, and stray animals, preventing potential messes and health hazards.

Customized Service: Our services offer additional options such as cleaning the trash cans, further enhancing hygiene and reducing odors.

Peace of Mind: Provides reassurance that waste management is being handled efficiently and professionally, allowing residents to focus on other priorities without worrying about trash cans.

Contact us and one of our representatives will call you with further information on why United Handy Can™ is the number one choice in Southern California for trash can valet.

FAQ

Simply fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page and we’ll respond right away.

No. However, if you choose to leave your gate locked please contact us ahead of time to discuss access options.

If you choose to leave your gate locked, please contact us ahead of time to discuss access options.

Otherwise, you will need to unlock your gate the day prior or on your scheduled pick-up day by 10am.

For more information fill out the contact form below and we’ll get back to you right away.

Testimonials

“I’ve had ongoing back pain and it was impossible to move the trash cans to the curb. My driveway is long and steep. With United Handy Can I never have to worry about the trash and I’m providing work for people with special needs. I feel great about that.”

“I’m a 75 year old women, my gardener stuffs my green can with so much grass and weeds I cant move the can, shame on him. Thank goodness for your service.”

“I’m a new mom and it’s hard to leave my baby to go outside to deal with the trash. Thanks United Handy Can.”

“I often come home late from work, and the last thing I want to do is bring in the cans. Now I don’t have to worry about it. Thanks so much!”

In The News

Employing People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A Report by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp)

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) comprise an underutilized population of potential employees proven to be a positive influence on co-workers, customers, the community and a company’s bottom line. Through survey data, case studies, and individual success stories, this report demonstrates how workers with IDD provide both talent and productivity.

Disabled But Qualified

According to Pride Industries:

“One in five Americans has a disability, yet two-thirds of working age Americans with disabilities are unemployed––many not by choice.”

“California has the most diverse population in the United States, and people with disabilities represent the single largest and most diverse minority, providing a major untapped source of qualified job candidates.”

“One in five Americans has a disability, representing $1 trillion in purchasing power. The social value of hiring people with disabilities is recognized and rewarded by individuals with disabilities, their friends and families.”

“The ability to work, earn a paycheck, support oneself and one’s family are the keys to independence and a sense of accomplishment. When you show someone who is out of work, or never had a job, how to be successfully employed, you will understand the power of purpose.”

Contact Us

Send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Social Enterprise

“Social enterprises directly address social needs through their products and services or through the numbers of disadvantaged people they employ.”

“Americans having a disability of some sort represent $1 trillion in purchasing power. Social Enterprises not only helps people with disabilities to be employed, it moves individuals from human service consumers to contributors. This benefits everyone––the individual, their families, and taxpayers.”

United Handy Can • 18653 Ventura Blvd., #435 Los Angeles CA 91356

a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit • Tax Exempt ID 39-2066602

Copyright © 2025 United Handy Can a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Tax Exempt ID 39-2066602