Tag Archive for 'junk removal'

Page 2 of 5

Get Rid of Your E-Waste – why E-waste is bad and how to get rid of it

Published on July 12, 2011 in E-waste Removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .
You can’t just haul it out to the curb and expect it to get taken away by the city trash department. They won’t pick it up and you could get fined for leaving it out there. Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, poses a serious environmental hazard to us all if not disposed of properly. Landfills are already polluted from the mercury used in television and radio tubes from years past, not to mention the plastic that will never break down. We made them to last and that’s exactly what’s happening. They’re living on forever, buried in sand and soil that will never be useful for anything else again.
The disposal of e-waste is a rising dilemma in the United States and other developed nations. Unfortunately, as technology was developed in the 1950’s and 60’s, the disposal of that technology was never really taken into account. The wonders of modern science could never be replaced with anything more advanced, right? That was the philosophy back then. We were in a space race and everything was a miracle. Throwing it away or calling a junk hauling company for e-waste removal services were not thoughts that anyone entertained seriously. If they did, they didn’t have any support to act on them.
As the nation and the world entered the 1970’s, a new movement became popular – the conservation activists and environmentalists that are known today as the “green” movement. They instilled a sense of conscience in us that was never there before. Granted, it took decades before “recycling” and “carbon footprints” became trendy discussion topics, but the seed was planted during the post-war days after Vietnam. The peace movement, with nothing left to protest, began to focus their efforts on cleaning up the planet instead. Unfortunately, not enough folks listened to what they had to say.
In the 80’s and 90’s, more technology was thrown into landfills than had ever been seen before. The home computer was developed and then modified, over and over again. As processors got more powerful and units got smaller and more compact, the old went out with the junk removal companies and the new came into the home, only to be replaced six months later by something even newer. Desktops evolved into laptops, tube TV’s made way for flat screens and plasma, gaming companies came out with new systems every year. Consumers bought into all of it and e-waste continued to pile up.
Today, we have a serious problem. What we have thrown into our landfills is poisoning our earth, air, and water supplies. The new e-waste that is still accumulating can’t be put into the ground any more. It never should have been disposed of that way in the first place. Recycling is really the only way we can safely junk our old computers, televisions, and gaming systems. Does your junk removal company offer recycling? If it doesn’t, you need to find one that does – for the sake of our planet and our children’s future. Those are good enough reasons to make that extra call, aren’t they?
For the best in e-waste removal services, simply call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

5 Fun Projects for Your Backyard

Published on July 8, 2011 in Construction Waste Disposal, Yard Waste Removal and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The weather is nice and everyone needs a little exercise, right? How about creating a few projects to get work done in the backyard? You can gather up family and friends and have some fun with it. You’d be amazed at what you can accomplish when you have the manpower – and a junk removal company – at your disposal. Here are a few suggestions for fun projects you can do in your yard this summer.

  1. The Massive Clean-up: Don’t be afraid to call it massive. The bigger you make it sound, the more people you can bring into the fold to help you out with it. These types of clean-ups rarely end up being as big as they appear, but they make your backyard look so much better when you’re done. Clean out all the yard waste first. Pick up dead branches and any trash that’s lying around, mow and rake the lawn, and then call the junk removal company to haul it all away. Once it’s gone, you can set up the barbeque and have a party with everyone who helped.
  2. The Weekly Mow and Clean: Combine some outdoor activity with some indoor with the weekly mow and clean. Split your volunteers into two groups, one to mow the lawn and the other to clean out a garage, attic, or basement. You can even make it a contest if you want. First team to finish gets to enjoy some cold beers purchased by the other team. That should get everyone working at a fairly rapid pace.
  3. The Tom Sawyer Project – Painting the Fence: Remember how Tom got his friends to help him paint the fence? You can do the same thing. There’s no reason why you can’t invite a few friends or family members over and hand them paint brushes. Lay some drop cloths down and wear old clothes, though. These types of yard projects tend to get a little messy. It’s okay if it does. That’s what makes the project fun.
  4. Replace the Lawn: Are you tired of looking at that ragged patch of grass you used to call a lawn. Replace it. Dig up all the old grass and turn over the soil. Pull out any rocks, roots, stumps or chunks of concrete and have the junk removal company haul them off. You can rent heavy equipment to do it, or you can just get a whole lot of people to pitch in. Buy some pre-rolled sod and just lay it down when you’re done digging and leveling. Water it for a few days and you’ll have a brand new lawn to enjoy.
  5. Install a Pool: Tackle any of the projects above during the summer and you will decide you want a pool. Maybe reading this article has you thinking about it already. You can buy one at any number of local stores or shop online. You’ll need to clean the yard before you put it in, maybe do a massive clean like the one described in Project #1, but you might want to hire professionals for the actual install.

For the best in backyard cleanup services, simply call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

Clear Out Your Driveway

Published on July 7, 2011 in Driveway Cleaning and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Not everyone parks their car in their driveway. There are a number of other good uses for that long strip of gravel or asphalt, and storing all your useless junk there isn’t one of them. If you’re not going to use it for the car, at least find something creative to do with it. Begin by clearing it out. Call a junk removal company and get rid of all the old appliances and dented metal trash barrels you know that you’ll never use again. That space is much more than a storage bin for the tools and toys of yesteryear. It’s part of your living space. Treat it with respect.

What can you do with an empty driveway? You could have the asphalt torn up and turn it into a lawn. Rent a jack-hammer at your local hardware store and take an afternoon to hammer it into manageable chunks, then call the junk removal company back to haul it all away. The next step will require some heavier equipment; you’ll need to turn over all the soil underneath and plant some grass seed. You could also buy sod and roll out a new lawn in a few hours. It only takes a few days to take root and settle, so you could be barbequing on your new lawn in no time.

If you want to stick with the heavy equipment idea, you could just dig down and put a pool where your driveway used to be. That’s always a good time for all. You could also repave with concrete and make a basketball or tennis court out of it. Do you have kids? You’ll find they get injured a lot less after the junk removal company gets rid of the old junk in the driveway and you give them a place to play. They might even hang around the house more often instead of going to the neighbors all the time.

You could also leave the driveway as is and start using it as a driveway again. Some people stop parking their car in the driveway when they think they need it for storage. When you clean out the driveway, clean out the basement or garage too and you’ll find you have plenty of storage space. The car can go back in the driveway where it belongs and you can start doing your own auto repairs again. With rising gas and insurance prices you’ll need to find new ways to save money. Changing your own oil is one of them, as is vacuuming and washing the car at home. All of these tasks are a lot easier to do when your car is in the driveway instead of on the street.

If the rest of these suggestions seem like too much work, here’s a simple one. Call the junk removal company and point out what you want removed. Leave a table and chair, buy a hibachi and a cooler, and set up in the driveway for a relaxing day of burgers and beers. What could possible be better than that?

For the best in driveway cleanup services, simply call Junk King at 1-800-995 JUNK or book a free on site estimate online.

Scheduling Your Summer Remodeling Project

Published on June 30, 2011 in Yard Waste Removal, home remodeling, junk hauling and junk king. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .
Summer is the best time to take on that remodeling project or do a little work on the exterior of your home. The weather is typically dry and the days are longer, so you have more time to get the work done. Starting now while the summer is young is a good idea because in August it won’t seem so pleasant. The end of June and the beginning to the middle of July are the best times to work on your home, especially if you have to open it up and work without air conditioning. Do the heavy-duty work now and save the finish work and painting for the tail end when it gets really hot.
The first thing you’ll want to do before you start your project is contact Junk King and schedule an appointment to make sure you’ll be able to dispose of all the debris from your demolition and construction efforts. You don’t want to get stuck at the end of job with a yard full of wood and nails that you can’t get rid of.  Many homeowners forget to do this and find themselves stuck with a bunch of extra junk that they can’t handle. It’s part of the job, so make sure you add it in when you do your budget for the project.
The next item on your list will be materials. Buy everything you need in one shot so you don’t have to worry about having a home open to the elements because you couldn’t finish the job. Do-it-yourselfers have a tendency to operate on shoe-string budgets. That’s fine if you’re replacing a bathroom sink or putting in a new closet, but when it comes to a full remodeling job you’ll want to make sure you cover all bases. There’s nothing worse than having to scramble for extra dollars to finish a project you should have had properly budgeted before you began. Your wife (or husband) will never let you hear the end of it, so make sure your numbers are solid.
While you’re doing your budgeting, create a column for time. It takes more than materials and effort to get a remodeling project done. You’ll need to have time to invest in the project also. Can you afford to take time off from work? Are your completion estimates realistic? What if something goes wrong? Will you have time to fix the problem before you have to go back to work? It’s nice to think that everything will go smoothly from start to finish, but you should plan as if it will be otherwise. You just never know what might slow you down during a big project.
Once your budgeting is done and your materials are in place, you are ready to begin. Create a schedule for yourself that includes lunch hours and periodic breaks. You want to treat it like a job. Get up in the morning and set aside a certain number of hours to work on the remodeling. End your day when you say you are going to and you’ll finish the job on time without having to kill yourself while doing it.

Redesign Your Home for the Summer

Published on June 3, 2011 in Furniture Pick Up, interior decoration, junk king and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .
Here’s a suggestion. Go through your house and throw out all the useless junk that’s accumulated over the winter, and then rearrange the furniture before you put the air conditioners in the windows. You will find that you have more actual living space when you’re done. Most folks don’t realize that their high traffic and sitting rooms are more cramped than they need to be. If you’re like a lot of homeowners, or even renters, you probably have favorite corners and closets that you use for quick storage or for when you want to put something aside until later. It’s later. Is that something still there? Don’t you think it’s about time you got rid of it?
People are creatures of habit. We get used to certain layouts for our furniture and have specific routines when it comes to storing or disposing of unwanted items. Some people are pack-rats, keeping everything, whether it will have a future use or not. Others are just not motivated to move things downstairs to the trash barrels. If you’re either of those and your house has reached the point where the junk is pushing you out the door, give Junk King a call to take it all away for you.
Where do you begin? You might want to start with the room that’s most congested. Take all of those boxes and move them to the bottom of the stairs and then out to the sidewalk. If the box has been there more than two years and you haven’t opened it, there’s a good chance anything inside it is something you don’t need. Don’t get caught up in the sorting. Take a brief look (because you know you have to) and then get it outside. Once the room is clear, vacuum the rug, close the door, and move on.
Do you have clothing you haven’t worn since high school? Nostalgia aside, do you really think it will ever fit you again? Even the skinny you as an adult will never be that small again. Keep your old leather jacket or letterman sweater if you want to reflect back, but get rid of the rest. The kids won’t wear them either. You know better. Find a used clothing box in the neighborhood or call Junk King to recycle or dispose of it. That separation anxiety will only last a few minutes until the truck is out of sight.
Now that the boxes and old clothes are gone, what’s next? You’re already seeing more space and thinking about new arrangements for the furniture. What can you do to give your home even more room to grow again? How about trashing the old appliances that you’ve been procrastinating about fixing? New ones are more efficient and you might even get a cash rebate if you act now. There are state and federal programs that pay you to upgrade, but only for a limited time. Get rid of them now along with everything else you need to throw away. Then start moving your furniture around. When you’re done, it will look like you moved into a brand new home.

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.

Summer BBQ Preparation Guide

Published on May 17, 2011 in Old Furniture Pick Up, Yard Waste Removal, junk king and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .
The sun is shining, the temperatures are warm, and that wonderful time of year is upon us again. Some people look forward to sandy beaches and water sports, but you know what summer is really all about. Its barbecue season and you aren’t nearly ready for it. Stop staring out the window wistfully; dreaming of all the good times you had in the past. This year is going to be better than all of them, but only if you start the preparations right now. Here’s a short to-do list that might help you:
Go grill shopping. Do this before the season starts also, even if you don’t need a new grill. You know, at some point during the summer, you will go to someone else’s house and covet their grilling set-up. That’s okay. Yours is fine, but you might want to convince yourself of that early by checking out new models. Who knows? Maybe you will upgrade. At the very least, you’ll probably buy some cool accessories.
Buy a freezer. This is for the really serious entertainers. Buy a freezer for the garage or basement and stock it full of meats to feed your friends and neighbors. The hot summer sun will thaw anything out in a few hours and your gas, propane, or charcoal grill will finish the job on time for lunch or dinner. There are some real advantages to having an extra freezer on the premises, the two most popular ones being always having enough to cook and the savings you can enjoy when you shop in bulk.
Invest in some real lawn and deck furniture. Do you really want your guests sitting on those flimsy folding chairs? How many did you break last year? Invest in some real furniture and make your home the comfortable barbeque spot everyone wants to visit. They’ll be talking about you long after the summer is over, and it will be for good reasons this time. People will gossip, no matter what, but gossip can be positive.
Clear all the junk out of the yard. If you don’t do this now at the beginning of barbeque season, you’ll never do it. There’s accumulated junk back there from the long winter of inactivity, maybe even a few items that have been there since before last summer. Did you procrastinate last season until it was too late? Don’t do it this year. Clean the yard and the porch while you’re at it, then call Junk King to get rid of everything before you start inviting friends and neighbors over.
Do some planning, but leave a few weekends open to be spontaneous. Grilling for friends and neighbors can be a lot of fun, but it gets monotonous if you do it every weekend. Don’t allow your source of enjoyment to become a chore. Plan a few weekend events, but leave other weekends open for spontaneous events. You may want to leave your back yard or deck at times to take advantage of those other summer activities – you know – the beach and water sports. You don’t have to give up grilling completely to partake in those. Bring the hibachi.

What is an Efficient Home?

Published on November 17, 2010 in Furniture Pick Up, junk removal, organization and organization tips. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

When people think of the word efficient they most often think of automobiles.  In a variety of recent car commercials, vehicles have been titled ‘efficient’ to tout their power, gas mileage and storage space.   One of the more memorable recent car commercials shows off a mini van that has seats that can be moved around, certainly making the vehicle more efficient as far as its use of space.

What do we think of in terms of an efficient home?  One interpretation of an efficient home could mean a family that runs very smoothly – family is out the door, dinner is on the table and the kids are put to bed like clockwork.  Another meaning of an efficient home could be one that uses the available space very well.  For example, the ancient art of ‘Feng Shui’ concentrates on organizing your home to maximize the space available.

Optimizing the available space at home can be done in several ways.  One is to move around furniture to different places.  Perhaps a sectional couch fits better across the room in the corner.  Maybe a plant gets more light if it is moved onto a counter top in the kitchen.  Perhaps the big flat screen TV provides better viewing angles if it is moved to the other side of the living room.  Although re-organizing furniture and household items can often be like a game of ‘Tetris’ – it is also a great way to better utilize your home’s available space.

Another way to make the space in your home more efficient is to simply get rid of the extra clutter.  There aren’t many homes out there that don’t have a bit of useless junk that probably isn’t doing more than collecting dust.  Although we all love to collect items – there is a fine line between holding onto things we like and hoarding.  As shown by a variety of popular hoarding tv shows, Americans are particularly fond of holding onto piles and piles of useless junk.

So how do we get rid of all that unnecessary clutter?  The first step is to have a reality check and take stock of what’s really important and what is unnecessary.  This can be done by dividing items in your into three piles:  “sure-things, would-like-to-keep’arounds, and toss-aways.”  Try using post-it notes around the house to designate items into these three categories.

Now comes the hard part – getting rid of those sometimes clunky items for good.  Although you could do it yourself, you’ll risk throwing out your back and ruining your car interior trying to haul those items away.  Your best option is to give Junk King a call at 1-800-995-JUNK.  Junk King provides affordable, efficient and eco-friendly hauling services so that you don’t have to live with all that clutter.

Junk Haulers for America

Published on September 20, 2010 in junk hauler, junk hauling, junk hauling business and junk removal. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

If you’re like most Americans, you have a tendency towards accumulating things.  Some of those things get used on a daily basis and others get tucked out of sight. We fill up boxes and pack closets. We bag up clothes and stack up mattresses. We load file cabinets and jam attics. We think that one day, that old crate of cables and heap of used lumber will come in handy. Face it, we’re a culture that loves to own stuff but has trouble parting with items that no longer serve a function.  From aging electronics to creaky furniture, we slowly let it pile up until we are drowning in junk.

If you’ve ever tried to dispose of junk yourself, it can be costly and time-consuming.  City dumping fees, e-waste centers, thrift stores and yard sales can be more trouble than they’re worth.  Fortunately there are professionals available who for a reasonable fee will happily show up at your door, haul your junk away and restore your peace of mind.

Transitions are often a time of sorting and sifting.  Changing office spaces or having kids leave for college can be the perfect time to lighten your load and clear out broken equipment, old appliances, discarded toys and various other eyesores. A junk hauler will save you the stress and back-strain of having to transport a flotilla of unwanted trash so you can focus on more important things.

Another instance where a junk hauler can be a tremendously asset is after a disaster.  The psychological and logistical chaos after a fire or flood can be debilitating.  With extensive damage and tons of trash to remove, where does one even begin? Under these trying circumstances, a junk hauler can be an angel of mercy, magically carting off the remnants of an event you would like to soon forget.

Junk hauling involves not only site pick-up but the sorting, redistribution, and recycling of any items that can be salvaged.  An experienced junk hauler can expertly separate materials and knows proper disposal procedures. After all, why toss your perfectly usable 70’s era egg-shaped swivel chair into the local landfill?  One person’s garbage is often another’s gold.

Even if you’re already good about getting rid of standard household items, yard waste and construction debris can start to collect after a big redesign project.  A junk hauler can remove landscaping remains like gravel and dirt as well as stucco or concrete rubble.  These materials are not only messy, they can also be a source of fumes and dust that are better left to a professional with the right equipment and respiratory protection.

Given that many of us have slight hoarding tendencies that manifest over time, it makes good sense to let a pro deal with your junk without any sentimentality or anxiety.  Once the unsightly heap is hauled away, you will feel a calming sense of order and the muscles around your neck and shoulders may begin to relax a bit.  You may even be able to use your backyard again.

Recycle…or face the penalty?

Published on August 24, 2010 in Recycle Furniture and Recycling. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Cleveland, Ohio is implementing a unique approach to ensure their citizens recycle on a regular basis.  Recycling bins in Cleveland will be outfitted with high-tech RFID Chips that let the city monitor if a bin is taken to the curbside on a regular basis.  If city officials see that the bin isn’t getting used regularly, they will allows trash collectors to check curbside garbage bins for properly sorted materials.  Incorrect sorting (finding materials that should have been recycled) will result in a $100 fine.

This new recycling system will be implemented for all Cleveland residents (480,000 people) within the next several years.  The system was previously tested with a pilot program of 15,000 households, starting in 2007.  Although the measure is already receiving some criticism due to concerns of privacy invasion, Cleveland’s administration is steadfast in its new program.

There was plenty of incentive to cover the program’s projected bill of $9 million.  From TriplePundit.com:  “For every ton of trash taken to the landfill, the city pays $30; on average, the city nets about $26 for each ton of recycled materials. “

Although punitive measures seem extreme – an increase in recycling ends up being better for everyone. The city, economy, citizens and environment all benefit from a boost in everyday recycling.   As more junk is recycled and reused, less junk ends up our country’s landfills.   In addition, more recycling means less of a need for the production of raw materials like paper.

Although ‘recycle monitors’ haven’t yet spread to cities across the country, it could end up that way as cities look for ways to save money and increase environmental awareness.   Let’s be realistic – people who don’t regularly recycle aren’t necessarily anti-environment,  but simply might not have the time or knowledge to get it done.  The sudden influx of eco-friendly marketing in the media could also be overwhelming to some people who are just trying to get by.

The best way to recycle is to take it one step at time: learn what types of materials can be recycled on an everyday basis.  There are several guides online that can help with the details of recycling.  Some larger items (furniture, appliances, construction waste) are harder to classify as recyclable (especially when broken up). These items also can’t simply be placed in the recycling bin and placed on the curb; they need to be hauled to the correct recycling facility.

For these large items, a reliable and eco-friendly Junk Removal company like Junk King can be useful by saving a homeowner a lot of time and trouble.  Junk King provides a professional and affordable hauling service that recycles up to 60% of all hauled materials.