Stubby’s Can Cleaners getting started
Some people see a dirty garbage can and think it’s just part of life. JimBob Stubblefield sees a problem worth solving.
After spending eight years on residential garbage routes for the City of McMinnville, Stubblefield has seen just about everything a trash can can hold. He’s seen the buildup. He’s seen the mess. And, most of all, he’s smelled it.
Now he’s hoping his new business, Stubby’s Can Cleaners, will make one small part of everyday life a whole lot cleaner.
“I want to do something that’s a positive thing for the community,” said Stubblefield. “I know it’s not a major thing, but it’s something that will take away some funk. We all can do our small part in making it cleaner.”
Recently launched, Stubblefield is already building momentum.
“I started two weeks ago and it’s going pretty good - Picked up a few cans already as we get rolling,” said Stubblefield.
The idea came from an unexpected source. A friend in Michigan told Stubblefield about the growing business of residential trash can cleaning and encouraged him to give it a shot. Since then, the two have stayed in contact, with Stubblefield regularly sending pictures and updates while his friend critiques his work and offers advice.
The goal isn’t just to get the job done - It’s to leave every can looking like new.
“I told my wife, ‘If I can’t pick something up out of there and eat it, then it’s not done,’” laughed Stubblefield.
That attention to detail comes naturally for someone carrying a family name that has long been associated with quality.
Stubby’s Can Cleaners is named after Stubby’s Dry Cleaners, the longtime McMinnville business owned by Stubblefield’s great aunt and great uncle.
“I want it to be known as a reputable name because when they had it, it was a reputable dry cleaner. The name means a lot,” said Stubblefield.
His years in sanitation also taught him why regular cleaning matters. A garbage truck may haul the trash away every week, but everything left behind continues to bake in Tennessee heat.
“You’re looking at bacteria, maggots and then the smell alone can be horrifying. Even being in the garbage truck with the windows up, you can smell it,” said Stubblefield. “You don’t want people around the trash can at a cookout thinking, ‘Man that reeks.’”
The former sanitation worker believes his familiarity with McMinnville gives him a head start.
“I know where all the routes are. I did it and I’m familiar with the streets,” said Stubblefield. “I met a lot of friends on the route. I love doing trash pickup and this brings me back to it.”
Stubby’s Can Cleaners currently serves McMinnville, though Stubblefield hopes to expand into Smithville and Sparta as the business grows.
A one-time cleaning starts at $30, while customers who schedule monthly cleanings can receive a reduced rate.
