Residents working to complete big projects this summer like remodeling their house or cleaning up an estate may find themselves with lots of stuff to throw away. This is where Dana and Lisa Weegens’ family-operated business seeks to make the trash aspect of the project hassle free.

The Weegens operate We-Can Services, a waste management company that offers dumpster rental and trash and steel haul away. The family opened the business this past April, with the aim to provide friendly, locally owned services to those within Niles and a 15 to 20-mile radius of the city.

“The biggest thing that we offer is a mom and pop type atmosphere,” Dana said. “When you call these other companies you are getting a hold of a [person] at the front desk and then another person after that. Here [at We-Can] you deal with the ownership. You are going to meet the family.”

Dana is no stranger to the business or to Niles. His family has lived in the area for more than 30 years and some may recognize him as the former co-owner of Weegens Bros. Salvage.

Dana operated the Fifth Street salvage and scrap haul away business with his brother, Neal Weegens. After 12 years of operating the business as partners, Neal decided to pursue an opportunity out of state, so the brothers sold the business.

Now back in the similar industry of dumpster rental and trash haul-away, Dana said the family operated business knows what it is like be budget conscience. This understanding helped to influence We-Can to offer comparatively affordable rates to customers.

“My wife and I are all about saving money,” Dana said. “And as part of [the] community we want to help [customers] save money, too.”

The company offers 10-yard and 20-yard dumpsters for $230 to $355 on average, depending on the material collected.

“You would call us up and we would set a dumpster up in your driveway, when it is full, whether trash or steel, we haul it away,” Dana said.

The refuse is hauled to the Berrien County Landfill or taken to a scrap yard.

With an additional aim to save residents from road and driveway wear and tear, the family invested in a pickup unit and lighter weight trailer. Other competitors may use a truck weighing between 50,000 to 60,000 pounds, Dana said.

“[In this sense] we are offering you savings in many ways,” he said. “Not only are you going to save money when you rent from us, but we are going to save money on road repair, same thing with your driveway.”

Reflecting on his start in the industry, Dana first found the interest while helping his father operate a similar business while he was growing up in Illinois. The business collected and hauled away farmers’ scrap metal.

Now Dana said he and Lisa are hoping to pass on some family business skills to their own children, Amanda, 15 and Sam, 13.

While the industry has quite a few competitors, Dana encouraged those in the community to support local businesses that know and care for their community.

“Our first and foremost goal is to provide this business as a mom and pop service to the community,” Dana said.

How to use services:

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday

INFO: (269) 635-3279

WEBSITE:

facebook.com/We-Can-Services-LLC