CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA
Solid waste collection companies in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 20 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 12-person team.
- Establishments
- 20CBP 2023
- Employees
- 242mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.2U.S. 3.2
- Rank
- 96th of 564areas by count
Solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 20 establishments classified as Solid Waste Collection (NAICS 562111) in the Lake Charles, LA metro area. Together they reported 242 mid-March employees and $23.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 96th of the 564 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 243,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 8.2 solid waste collection companies per 100,000 people, 154.9% above the national rate of 3.2. Establishments average 12.1 employees, 44.3% below the U.S. average of 21.7. Payroll per employee comes to $96,566, 37.2% above the national $70,390.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 20 | 145 | 10,982 |
| Mid-March employees | 242 (moderate noise) | 3,172 | 238,764 |
| Annual payroll | $23,369,000 (moderate noise) | $223,860,000 (moderate noise) | $16,806,608,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 12.1 | 21.9 | 21.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $96,566 | $70,574 | $70,390 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA
Of the solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 47.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 43.6%). When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 47.4% | 43.6% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 17.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 21.1% | 14.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 31.6% | 13.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 10.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a waste collection company in Lake Charles, LA has to catch
Waste haulers take calls about missed pickups, dumpster rentals and billing. Customers want quick answers when a pickup is missed. That holds for solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA as much as anywhere.
Calls a waste collection company in Lake Charles, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A business calls about adding service.
- A customer calls about a billing question.
- A customer calls about a missed pickup.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are usually service requests for the next day.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a waste collection company in Lake Charles, LA
The average waste collection company in Lake Charles, LA has 12.1 employees, so a 12-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $299.40 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $360.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 12 people cost $239.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,452. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $239.00 | $2,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $228.00 | $2,736.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $276.00 | $3,312.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $299.40 | $3,592.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $324.00 | $3,888.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $360.00 | $4,320.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Lake Charles, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (131 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 131 | Central | 1999 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What solid waste collection companies in Lake Charles, LA get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Lake Charles, LA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many solid waste collection companies are there in Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 20 solid waste collection companies in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 242 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 12-person waste collection company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 12 users cost $360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $239.00.
What area code should a waste collection company in Lake Charles, LA use?
Area code 337 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a waste collection company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.