PEABODY — Fritz Bonaventure and Michael Tango have been best friends since middle school. Now both 40, they’ve started a business together to help keep local properties clean.
Called Mr. Bintastic, the business offers trash and recycling bin cleaning services to residents and commercial properties on the North Shore and in the Boston area, with the hopes of expanding into municipal contracts.
“We’re two local guys from Peabody,” Bonaventure said. “Our families live here. Our kids go to Peabody schools, play Peabody sports. So we wanted to be a local company to help out our surrounding cities and towns.”
The duo drives a bright green and blue trailer to clients’ homes or businesses. They bring their own hot water and an environmentally friendly, biodegradable deodorizer that contains natural essential oils to clean the bins.
Using special mechanical arms attached to the trailer that pick up the barrels, they usually finish their work within 10 minutes. They offer monthly, bi-monthly and one-time cleanings.
Cleaning something that stays outside and is meant to hold trash might sound counterintuitive to some. But with rodent problems in Peabody and surrounding communities, this is a good way to keep pests off resident’s properties, Bonaventure said.
“Most people will just use a garden hose and some bleach and then call it a day,” he said. “That’s nothing compared to what 200-degree hot water and 4,000 psi of water can actually do.”
Mr. Bintastic also provides power wash services for dumpsters, patio decks, siding, driveways, shopping carts and other things besides bins.
“The main focus is trash, but because of the power washing and how hot the water is, it gives us the ability to do a lot of other things to help people out,” Bonaventure said.
Mr. Bintastic’s business model is rarely seen. While some large companies do offer trash bin and dumpster cleaning services, often for commercial clients, there isn’t another mobile, locally owned power washing business that focuses on trash bin cleaning on the North Shore.
Bonaventure came up with the idea for Mr. Bintastic after seeing a similar business on TikTok. Looking for a change from the car industry, the idea came to life a year ago after convincing his best friend to join in.
Though it’s now a full-time gig for Bonaventure, Tango still works at Verizon on top of cleaning bins.
Tango handles the social media side of the business, while Bonaventure is usually the one to drive their trailer around the city to help advertise for the business (as their bubbly Mr. Bintastic mascot on the side easily catches the eye).
Tango’s favorite part of the job is talking to customers, he said.
“This is something they really didn’t think of, and now they’re not really seeing any issues with their barrels,” Tango said.
Many of their customers so far are in Boston, he said. They both hope more North Shore locals will utilize their services.
More information can be found at www.mrbintastic.com or by calling 978-717-3366.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.