Archive for the 'junk recycling' Category

Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Hauling

Published on October 21, 2011 in dumpster rental, junk hauling, junk king, junk recycling and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Have you ever looked out your window and said, “That is a horrendous eyesore my neighbor has put out on his front lawn.” We’re talking about the dumpster, that massive box constructed of green, black, or blue metal that is taking up a good portion of your view and emitting an appalling stink. Do you want to be the one who does that to your neighbors? There are other alternatives, and junk hauling is one of them. Why store all that trash until the dumpster is full when you can have it hauled away and eliminate the need to replant your grass next year?
You might want a dumpster if you are demolishing a house or for other large scale projects to keep things clean.  Even for those kinds of jobs, you can call a junk hauling company like Junk King to handle the entire load. The rates are typically lower and you don’t have to worry about children or animals climbing into the dumpster and getting hurt. Even those dumpsters that lock can still be accessed by an enterprising youth with a thirst for adventure. There are a number of dumpster accidents involving children every year.
Junk hauling companies like Junk King also offer recycling services, something you won’t likely get from a dumpster rental company. If you’re stripping copper, getting rid of plastic tubing, or throwing out furniture you’ll want someone to  haul it to a recycling plant.  That way, you can prevent having an eye sore on your green lawn and be green yourself by having  junk disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.
In addition, dumpsters kill grass and tear up pavement, so no matter where you put them down you’ll be looking at a repair bill of some kind when the job is done. For a construction job, if you’re planning on using the home while you’re working, or moving back in immediately after, having the junk hauled away is a better option. It’s cleaner and less likely to cause a stink, literally and with the neighbors.
That covers the dumpster on residential property options, but what about commercial use? Some businesses, like restaurants for instance, need to have a dumpster out back to get rid of daily paper and food waste. There really isn’t any way around that. Junk hauling is a way to cut down on the size and price of a dumpster though. There is weekly waste from inside the office and other large junk items that can be hauled away on a regular or as-needed schedule. Think about it. Do you really need that huge dumpster out back? Chances are you could get a smaller one and hire Junk King for those bigger items.

If you are on the fence between a dumpster of junk hauling, simply call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK and have all your questions and concerns answered promptly.

Choosing the Right Appliances to Improve Your Home

Published on September 19, 2011 in Old Appliances, get rid of old appliances, junk hauling, junk king, junk recycling and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .
What year was your washer manufactured? How about your dryer or your refrigerator? Do you know that appliances made today are far more efficient than those made even as little as five years ago? The electric, gas, or water bill you’re paying to run those old appliances could be cut in half if you upgrade to newer equipment. If you do it now, you might even be able to take advantage of subsidies and rebates being offered by manufacturers and state and federal government. Act fast though, that free money is running out quickly.
You’ll soon realize that improving your home with new appliances is an investment, not an expense. However, before you start shopping for the new appliance, make sure you have someone ready to take away the old items for you. Junk King will be able to effortlessly get rid of that old washer, dryer, fridge, or any other type of appliance.
Let’s get onto the buying.  When you are selecting new appliances, ask lots of questions. The “Energy Star” rating is a good indicator that the appliance uses less electricity, gas, or water, but it’s not a guarantee of quality. If you have online resources, research brand names and pay attention to any warning signs about models that have had problems in the past. Going with an established brand name like Whirlpool or General Electric is a safe bet, but that doesn’t mean that some of the newer companies don’t have quality equipment. Shop around and compare. It’s a big investment, so don’t rush.
One of the things you’ll notice while shopping for new appliances is the difference in size. This is particularly true for kitchen appliances. The dishwasher or microwave you used to own took up a lot of space. The new ones not only do a better job, they’re smaller. You’ll have more counter and floor space after you upgrade, making your kitchen bigger and easier to move around in. You might actually start to spend more time there again and enjoy making meals for your family.
One of the great things about hiring Junk King for your appliance disposal needs is their ability to responsibly dispose of the junk items.  Most appliances don’t belong in the regular trash (or subsequently in a landfill). There are enough dead appliances in our landfills already, polluting the soil and taking up space that can never be used for anything else again. Beautifying your home with new appliances is a wonderful thing. Destroying the earth by not recycling the old appliances is not.  Junk King will know how to get rid of these items by taking them to the proper facilities.
Need some appliance disposal services today?  Simply call 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

Benefits of Recycling Old Furniture, Large Trash and Everyday Items

Published on September 13, 2011 in Green Junk Removal, Landfills, Recycle Furniture, Recycling, junk king, junk recycling, large trash pick up and trash removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .
There isn’t really any doubt in anyone’s mind that recycling is beneficial to us all. Just take a look at all the landfills in your area that are filled with plastics and other materials that will never break down. Those blue bins the trash company provides you with for separating bottles, paper goods, and cans for recycling should be a regular part of your daily routine. No one should even have to think about it anymore.
Certain substances can only be recycled; they do not degrade. If you’re planning on doing some cleaning in your home, make sure you know which ones they are. Textiles like rayon fall in this category, as do plastics and polymers. They’re built to be indestructible and they are, so make sure the junk removal company that takes them away is going to be recycling and not just dumping them. That old couch could become a new piece of furniture or a garment for someone. It still has a use. Throwing it into a landfill would be a waste and could poison the soil. Those dyes and wood preservatives they used to manufacture it are usually toxic.
If you’re not able to see the environmental benefit of recycling, consider the financial impact it has on our economy. Every year, hundreds of trees are cut down for paper goods and thousands of pounds of harmful emissions are released into the air by plastics factories. The economic impact of just these two actions is staggering. The trees need to be replaced because they’re our source of oxygen. The factories need to be refitted to lower emissions. Accomplishing either of these costs money – both the actual cost of the actions and the legislation and lobbying required for them to happen.
Some states have bottle bills that require a deposit on all plastic bottles and cans. The deposit is refunded when you return the empty containers, a good incentive for people to recycle. With the economy being the way it has been, you don’t even have to cash them in yourself. In most cities if you place your cans on the sidewalk in a paper bag someone will come by and get them. There are plenty of folks out of work who are happy to make their money five or ten cents at a time.
It’s important to recycle. There is also a responsibility that comes with doing it. Use the bins the way the trash removal company instructs you to because doing otherwise it will cost you and them more money.
When you have a large piece of furniture that you need taken away, don’t just leave it out for the trash trucks. Consider calling a junk removal company like Junk King that specializes in recycling and can bring the item someplace where it can do some good. The end result of actions like that will be cleaner air, land, and water, not to mention much-needed job creation in the recycling industry.

Recycling Methods – How Junk is Turned Into Useful Materials Again

Published on August 26, 2011 in hauling, junk hauling and junk recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , .
Ever wonder what happens to the old refrigerator or ripped couch that you see from time to time on the curb or in front of a home? Unfortunately, alot of it still ends up in landfills when people toss the items out in the traditional way. However, eco-friendly companies like Junk King try to make sure items like these are properly recycled.  Here’s some info on how it all starts and what happens to those items after they are picked up.
Where Does all our Junk Come From?
Remember the radio you absolutely had to have three years ago that has recently been replaced by a bigger more current sound system? Or the two outdated computer printers that are sitting in the basement collecting dust? You’re not alone if you’re starting to build a collection of junk that is no longer useful to you. However, many of these items may still have a purpose, even if they are broken. Of course, not to you anymore, but in many cases, recycling methods can turn almost any kind of junk into useful materials again. From old appliances or office equipment to your daughter’s ten speed bike, junk is everywhere.
What is Junk Recycling?
Most people are familiar with the act of recycling and more than likely the image that comes to mind is probably the blue bins. In efforts to prevent wasting materials, we recycle. We throw our bottles into specific containers, we separate our newspaper from our other trash, and we even rinse out plastic containers. Most of us are aware that creating new products from used products reduces air pollution from incineration and water pollution from landfills. Almost anything can be recycled, including glass, paper, metal, plastic and electronics. But junk? How?
Junk recycling doesn’t get as much attention as bottles or paper. Perhaps that’s because there are no big blue bins to place an old piece of furniture in or a broken computer. As a result, most people aren’t quite sure what to do with old household items like appliances, or furniture. However, it’s easy to contribute your old junk. In fact, it’s as simple as calling Junk King.  A professional junk hauling team is at your disposal to come to your home and pick up your junk so you don’t have to worry about loading it into your vehicle or carrying it. Responsible disposal is easy, convenient and satisfying, leaving you with the peace of mind in knowing that your useless items are being recycled and used for good.
Everyone has junk. Some of us more than others, but nevertheless, there is something we can do about it. Consider junk hauling services to dispose of your useless items and know that your efforts at responsible disposal will have a positive impact on someone else. The beauty of recycling is the benefit of knowing something useful will most likely be made out of something that has served its time with you.

Big Junk Items That Can Be Recycled

Published on May 24, 2011 in Old Appliances, Old Furniture Pick Up, get rid of junk, junk king, junk recycling and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .
It’s time to get rid of that old refrigerator or washing machine. You know it, your spouse knows it, and anyone who could see your bank statement would know it if they saw how much you’re paying for gas, water, and electricity. Those old appliances are literally sucking the life out of you. If you choose to upgrade now to energy star rated modern appliances you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year. That makes them an investment, not an expense.
Now that you have come to grips with the fact that you have to get rid of your old appliances, how exactly do you do it? Your city waste disposal  might have a day or two a month when they come around to get items like that, but then the appliances most likely end up in a landfill. The chemicals inside them, particularly in air conditioners and refrigerators, will seep into the earth and poison it. You don’t want that, do you? You’re better off calling a junk removal company like Junk King that can take these items to the proper recycling center.
Junk removal isn’t the same as waste disposal. A waste disposal company’s sole purpose is to destroy or eliminate any waste or junk that you put out curbside. A junk removal company comes to pick up specific items, and they’ll take them to the right places for proper disposal. Many recycling centers will take used appliances. Depending on what state you live in, you might even get paid to get rid of the old items, in cash or with a rebate on a new appliance. Some of these “Cash for Clunkers” appliance programs still have a few dollars left in their budgets.
One man’s garbage is another man’s prize. That old refrigerator you want to throw away might just end up in someone’s garage, basement, or cottage. How many times have you gone on an outdoor adventure and seen an old General Electric or Maytag appliance? In a situation like that, the gas and electric bill aren’t a major concern. The machines aren’t used often enough to worry about it. Not only that, but when it comes to durability and longevity some of those old appliances are legendary.
Recycling doesn’t just apply to appliances either. Other large junk items like couches, kitchen tables, and old desks can be restored and would look great in someone else’s home or office. Do you have teenage children? They’re going to get their first apartment or dorm room soon enough. Maybe you should hang on to some of that furniture and let them have it when they move out. Who cares if it’s old and stained? Do you remember what your first place looked like?
There’s always a use for a used appliance or old piece of furniture. It may not be useful to you, but someone else could get some years out of it. Don’t throw it away. The landfills are full enough and even if it’s incinerated you’ll still be polluting the environment. If you can’t give it away or sell it at a yard sale, call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK and they’ll come by and pick it up in a jiffy.

Recycle Your E-Waste Today!

Published on April 4, 2011 in E-waste Removal, Green Junk Removal, Recycling and junk recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

The Chicago Tribune recently published an interesting article regarding the status of electronic waste, or e-waste in this country. From the Tribune: “On average, each U.S. household has about 24 electronic gadgets, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. About 2 million tons of unwanted electronic items accumulate every year nationwide, but less than 20 percent is recycled, according to the EPA. The rest end up in landfills, where toxic materials such as lead, mercury and beryllium can leak, posing human health and environmental problems.”

One of the reasons why e-waste is such a prevalent problem lately is because of the tremendous pace of technological advancement. A five-year old computer is now considered outdated – although it might be able to do the basics like word processing it will probably have trouble trying to perform any advanced functions like playing movies, games or viewing high-bandwidth websites.

The same trend goes for printers, copy machines, shredders and televisions.  In fact, televisions are one of the largest sourced of e-waste as people toss out their old boxy sets for flat screen and HDTVs that are rapidly dropping in price.  This rate of technological progression, coupled with the round-the-clock marketing campaigns by manufacturers to ‘upgrade’ your electronics, has made e-waste the fastest growing portion of garbage in the United States.

This trend certainly isn’t going to slow down anytime soon either.  All signs point to a continued rate of advancing rate technology (as well as marketing), which translates to more and more e-waste over the next decade or so.  Although US local and federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency are pushing legislation to curb irresponsible disposal of e-waste, this simply won’t be enough.

People around the country need to take a stand and realize that e-waste ending up in landfills can dramatically affect the environment and eco-system around us.  The decisions that citizens make today will truly make a difference in the quality of life of the next several generations.

So what can you do?  Walk around your house and label all your old electronics with a post-it note.  These are the items that are sitting around, not getting used and are bound for the trash can or dump at some point without prior intervention.  On a weekend, gather all of these items and find a nearby recycling center that you can bring them to.

Don’t have the time or manpower to haul out these items?  Give Junk King a call at 1-800-995-JUNK.  Junk King will make sure to responsibly haul away your e-waste items by bringing them to the correct facilities.

A Bit of Green Reading: The Best Green Blogs & News Sources

Published on March 10, 2011 in Bay Area Junk Removal, Green Junk Removal, Recycling, green blogs and junk recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

The world around us getting a fresh layer of paint – green paint that is.  Everywhere you look, from TV commercials to news stories, green and eco-friendly initiatives are taking center stage.  Although companies around the world are trying to harness the ‘green revolution,’ this isn’t a bad thing.   If small and large companies make it both their civic and corporate duty to become a little bit greener, it will benefit both our environment and economy in the long run.

One problem, however, is the amount of information we’re all getting bombarded with on “what’s green.”   Is being green simply recycling your plastics on a regular basis, bringing a reusable bag to the grocery store and riding your bike every so often?  Or is green a total change in your lifestyle; always thinking about your ‘carbon footprint’ and how much effect your actions will have on the environment around us?  These questions are really up for every individual person to answer, however, we aren’t alone in making our decisions.

There are some great online sources on green information: providing tips on recycling, clean energy technology, composting, and pretty much every other environmental subject you could think of.   Using these up-to-date blog and news sources, we can be more informed on how to be green, and in turn make the right decisions throughout our lives.   So, without further ado, here are a few great picks for green blogs and news sources:

SFGreen from SFGate.com: The San Francisco Bay Area may be considered the hub of the green revolution.  Bay Area citizens and businesses not only preach an eco-friendly lifestyle, but they also back up those words with real actions and change.  The Bay Area’s primary news source, the San Francisco Chronicle, and it’s online presence SFGate.com, reflect this commitment to the environment.  SFGate.com has a specialized eco-friendly section called SFGreen, which provides current news stories on the latest and greatest green trends and research.

Waste and Recycling News: Waste and Recycling news primarily concentrates on businesses around America, and the current effect they are having on our environment.  From breaking news on environmental legislation to providing bios on those companies that are making a difference, Waste and Recycling is another great source to follow.

The Daily Green: For those of us that are most concerned with our own everyday actions and how we effect the environment, the Daily Green is a fantastic blog to keep informed.  With sections like ‘The Greenest Celebrities’ to show those stars who are really making a  difference in the world, the Daily Green provides the perfect mix of entertainment and information to keep you reading on a regular basis.

Junk King’s Recycling Section: You might not know it, but the Junk King blog has an entire section devoted to junk recyling and green living.  The section covers a variety of topics, from how to recycle large appliances like your refrigerator to current events in the world of recycling.   Stay tuned to the Junk King blog for continued coverage on our ongoing battle to preserve the environment around us.

The Difficulty in Recycling

Published on February 26, 2010 in Green Junk Removal, Recycling and junk recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Do you sometimes find it difficult to recycle?  When you face the choice of just throwing something out or recycling it, it’s almost always easier to throw things away in a conventional manner.  We’ve all been in that situation: holding an empty can or bottle without a recycling bin in sight.  We most often end up settling for a trash can.

We all know how recycling can help the environment, and especially in today’s world how recycling our waste is seen as an obligation to our neighbors and society at large.  So how do we find the proper balance between time and good-will and get in the habit of regularly recycling?  I’d like to take a moment to provide five ways in various situations that we can get in the groove of recycling more often.

  1. Make a List: It never hurts to make a list to keep track of your everyday activities.  There are often several points during your normal day where you may have an opportunity to recycle, but simply don’t.  Sit down and make a list that maps out your day and when you might normally throw out trash (on the way out the door, after lunch, etc.).  Next time you encounter that time of day you’re far more likely to recycle.
  2. Create a Habit: We all know it’s pretty hard to kick a bad habit; the same often goes for good habits like recycling.  Most of us have been habituated to throw our waste away in a trash can, just because we’ve repeatedly done that throughout our lives.  If you make recycling a game or goal, it can become easier to keep than you think.
  3. Create a Company Culture: If you are in charge of a company, or simply want to make difference where you work, creating a company recycling culture can be a great way to get a large group of people into the habit of recycling.  Think of an innovative way to make people look for those blue recycling bins: maybe everyone could initial their cans and bottles and win a ‘point’ for each recycled item, with the end goal of winning some sort of prize.
  4. Use an Eco-friendly Junk Removal Service: It’s often an even bigger hassle to recycle large or heavy items like scrap metal, old brick foundations, or computer equipment.  Junk-King provides an eco-friendly junk removal service that recycles up to 60% of the total hauled waste.  For those items that you can’t recycle yourself, be sure to consider Junk-King’s affordable services.
  5. Set an Example: You’d be surprised at how people might look up to you if you start recycling on a regular basis.  Whether it’s at the office, at home, or out and about, you can pass on the recycling ‘vibe’ by smoothly and swiftly depositing your trash in that blue bin.

Green Junk Removal

Published on January 22, 2010 in Green Junk Removal, junk recycling and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Every day, millions of tons of waste and junk ends up in landfills around the country. Although some of this junk eventually decomposes, much of it does not and can have adverse effects on our environment and public health.

One problem is leachate, or water that becomes contaminated by picking up toxic chemicals from landfills, ending up in our ground and surface water sources.  Another pressing issue is landfill gas, which is caused by the breakdown of waste and can contribute to global warming, local health concerns and deadly explosions.  In recent years, computer equipment that ends up landfills poses another hazard by releasing toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, or cadmium into the groundwater, soil and atmosphere.

Most of this junk and waste originates from households and businesses that want to get rid of unwanted clutter.  These people simply want to rid themselves of their junk and get on with their lives; they obviously have no agenda when it comes to harming the environment.

That’s where Junk King comes in.  Our Junk Removal service provides a solution for both cutting down on landfill waste as well as helping out homeowners and business clear out their clutter.  Unlike many other junk removal services, Junk King recycles 40-60% of the waste we pick up.

To this day, Junk King has saved approximately 2,282,500 tons of waste from ending up in local landfills around the country. Whether it’s scrap metal, plastic, computer equipment or several other types of waste, Junk King can get rid of materials efficiently, reliably and most importantly, in an eco-friendly manner.

As we’ve learned over the past decade, any little change over a large scale can help contribute to our fight against global warming.  Sometimes it’s both difficult and time consuming to take the steps to properly recycle your junk:  maybe the equipment is too heavy to haul away yourself or maybe you just don’t have the time during a busy workday to properly dispose of it.  No matter how small or large the item is, Junk King only charges by the space it takes up in our junk removal truck.   With this methodology, you’ll only pay for the amount of junk you remove and not the time it takes to get rid of it.  Taking the steps today to properly dispose of waste can make a big difference for the environment in the long run.

Feel free to contact us for a free on-site junk removal estimate via our online form or by calling 1-800-995-JUNK (5865).