As our little planet becomes populated by more and more people, each of whom desiring the latest and greatest things, junk recycling becomes tremendously important.
New styles and technology constantly evolve which means we need to, just as constantly, somehow dispose of the old stuff. The easy solution is to dump it in the trash or call someone to come pick it up and take it away, whatever that means.
For Junk King, it means taking the time and making the effort to recycle as much as we possibly can. In fact, we are successful recycling 60% of what we take in, on the average. Not bad for a day’s work!
This guide delves into the details of junk recycling from what it is, to key industry statistics, to choosing a junk recycling company you can trust.
Learn More About Our Recycling:
What is Recycling?
Here’s a concise definition of recycling according to an entry on Wikipedia:
“Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.”
It is probably safe to say that just about everyone is familiar with recycling At its core, recycling is simply breaking down waste products and then re-using the raw materials instead of disposing of them as trash. Today, most communities and waste management businesses make recycling easier by providing labeled waste containers for public use and curbside recycling bins for home and business owners who have curbside pickup service.
You point and we haul those items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees. tweet this
While recycling primarily benefits the environment, it also provides revenue for both the U.S. and global economies.
However, we still have a long way to go to see the full potential of recycling’s benefits to both our environment and our economy. For example, U.S. recycling levels are currently at 21.4 percent according to an EPA funded Yale University Study. And, while we may never be able to realistically reach 100 percent recycling, even 75 percent would have a vastly significant impact.
For example, if U.S. recycling levels reach 75 percent it would have an environmental and CO2 impact of removing 55 million cars from U.S. roads each year.
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The State of Recycling
Global recycling has been in a state of change since January 2018 when China banned the import of most plastics and other recyclable materials. For the U.S. the shift has been significant since China represented about 40 percent of our market for waste products.
Despite these challenges, recycling is still a major component of the American economy. For example:
- Recycling is a $200 billion industry in the U.S.
- The recycling industry generates significantly more jobs than operating landfills and waste to energy plants.
- Proper recycling creates valuable resources for manufacturing.
The practice of recycling has a direct and beneficial impact on the environment:
- Recycling conserves finite natural resources.
- Recycling conserves fresh water up to 95 percent in the mining and manufacturing process for many materials.
- Recycling helps prevent waste from going into oceans, which is still a common practice for many countries.
- Recycling significantly reduces the use of fossil fuel energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
It would be forgivable to think that the U.S. is the biggest producer of trash and junk, but we’re really not that high on the scale. tweet this
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Top 5 Waste Producing Countries
In the U.S. media focus on recycling and waste generation is focused on American consumers. As a result, it’s understandable to think that the U.S. is the biggest global producer of trash and junk. But we’re really not that high on the global scale and, in fact, the top waste producers per capita are:
- Kuwait – almost six kilograms per capita per day
- Antigua and Barbuda – 5.5 kilograms
- St. Kitts and Nevis – 5.45 kilograms
- Guyana – 5. 33 kilograms
- Sri Lanka – 5.10 kilograms
These are quantities of municipal solid waste, or MSW, which the World Bank defines as "non-hazardous waste generated in households, commercial and business establishments…” In comparison, the EPA estimated in 2012 that Americans only generate two kilograms of MSW per person per day.
So, what countries are the best – and worst – at recycling? Here’s a short list of winners and losers:
- Germany
- Austria
- South Korea
- Wales
- Switzerland
And at the bottom of the list is:
- Turkey
- Chile
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How to Get Rid of Your Recyclable Junk
Some junk items can be repurposed, sold or donated. And, if they’re usable items these are great options for getting rid of your unwanted stuff. However, after you’ve repurposed, sold, or donated your unwanted items, you may still have some things you need to get rid of.
So, what do you do with them?
A good option is to call Junk King to take care of your leftover junk. In fact, we can help with a wide variety of removal and hauling tasks such as:
- Hauling services for large and bulky junk.
- House cleanouts for moving, spring cleaning, converting rooms, or downsizing.
- Trash removal for yard waste, construction projects, and cleaning projects.
- Property clean outs for landlords and real estate agents.
Our professional junk removal services offer easy and affordable solutions for getting rid of your clutter and hauling away your unwanted junk. Having an experienced junk removal company that you can depend on matters and this is what you get with Junk King.
We provide professional junk removal experts who know how to safely and carefully remove even the biggest, bulkiest, heaviest items.
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How Not to Get Rid of Recyclable Junk
Whenever possible you should avoid dumping your recyclable junk and waste into the waste stream. This means not putting these items into your household or office trash bins. It also means not taking these materials to your local landfill.
And it definitely means not driving out to a remote stretch of road or an empty lot and simply dumping it there. That is both illegal and irresponsible.
Mobile phones have up to a thousand components, many of which contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium. tweet this
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Recycling E-Waste
E-waste, or electronic waste, is a growing issue and poses both economic and environmental impacts. The United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union issued a report that noted that nearly 45 million tons of electronics were thrown out in 2016, while only about 20 percent of it is known to have been recycled.
These recyclable items contain both valuable and hazardous materials. In 2016, the report estimated that the raw materials in that 45 million tons of e-waste was valued at about $55 billion. Of this amount, $9 billion was in smartphones alone.
Mobile phones have up to a thousand components, many of which contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium. Unfortunately, since the bulk of these devices do not get recycled, significant amounts of these materials make their way into the soil, water and atmosphere around the globe.
Long-term exposure to toxic heavy metals can have carcinogenic, central and peripheral nervous system, and circulatory effects in animals and humans.
So, don’t throw your old phone, batteries, and electronic devices in the trash. Have them recycled!
Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly e-waste removal service so you don’t need to worry about the pickup or disposal of those old items.
Not only that, we also ensure that your old electronics end up in the right place. Whether still-functioning electronics goes to a charity or a recycling facility, we make your e-waste is disposed of in an eco-friendly way.
We remove almost all types of e-waste, including:
- Computers
- Monitors
- Printers
- Copy Machines
- Shredders
- Televisions
So, don’t throw your old phone, batteries, and electronic devices in the trash. Have them recycled. tweet this
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Recycling Appliances
We provide an eco-friendly appliance removal service. You don’t have to haul your old appliances to the dump – Junk King can help you get rid of all of it including your old dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, ranges, washers and dryers, or heating and cooling equipment. And not only will we remove and haul away your old appliances, we’ll recycle them in an eco-friendly manner.
Some appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioning units contain Freon and similar chemicals. These are solvents that are harmful to the environment and must be handled carefully. Freon must be collected by a recycling center before the appliance itself can be recycled.
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Recycling Furniture and Mattresses
Disposing of used mattresses, box springs and other large furniture items is difficult to do by yourself since they can’t be dumped at landfills. The reason for this is because they contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
However, the good news is that even mattresses are recyclable. In fact, almost 90 percent of the materials in your old mattress can be recycled. And most furniture items are made of materials that can be broken down and recycled or reused.
Junk King provides professional mattress and furniture removal services. Junk King is a full service mattress disposal company providing an efficient and environmentally friendly way to recycle your mattress and bed springs.
Because there can be hazardous materials inside of some furniture pieces, recycling is not always possible. But the good news is that most furniture can be recycled most of the time.
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Costs of Junk Removal for Recycling
While most recycling can be done for free, when it comes to large items like e-waste containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and certain other items, there are fees and other costs involved. In addition, if you must rent a truck to haul your large items away for recycling, those costs must be considered.
A great alternative to doing it yourself, however, is to call a professional junk hauling service like Junk King.
We offer free estimates as a part of our service. Our red trucks show up on time at your location and provide you with a free written estimate. If you’re happy with the estimate, in most cases we can take your recyclable items right then and there.
Our operators are insured, and we dispose of items properly. We currently recycle up to 60 percent of every piece we take, which is good for your community, your neighborhood, and the planet.
We believe in fair and transparent pricing and we offer four different ways to get an estimate. For low minimums, free estimates and the best overall value in junk removal, you simply cannot beat Junk King.
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Recycling FAQs
What Items Are Not Recyclable?
- Garden hoses
- Sewing needles
- Bowling balls
- Food or food-soiled paper
- Propane tanks or cylinders
- Aerosol cans that aren’t empty
- Certain plastics and glass
- Batteries
- Light bulbs
Items That Are Recyclable:
Do We Take Hazardous Materials?
In most instances, Junk King will not take known hazardous materials or hazardous waste. These items should be handled through your local waste management provider or municipal agencies.
Typically, household hazardous materials fall into one of four categories: corrosive, explosive, flammable, or poisonous. Containers or items that fall into these categories are usually labeled or marked accordingly. Cleaning products, varnishes, motor oil (or other automotive fluids), pesticides, herbicides, and paints are all considered hazardous waste and should not be placed in trash bins or dumpsters.
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Choosing a Junk Recycling Company
We know that you have choices when it comes to hiring a company to haul away your recyclable junk. So, what should you consider when choosing a junk recycling company?
Excellent Customer Service
Can you find reviews of the company? Online reviews are readily available on most businesses and you should check them out before deciding. Have you been given referrals? If your referral source is a trusted friend or colleague , this can help you narrow down your options. The reputation of a junk removal company is often based on its customer service more than any other factor.
Ready to get rid of your recyclable junk? It really is as simple as 1, 2, 3. You just make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1-888-888-JUNK (5865) and our professional and insured waste removal team will show up at your home or office. We will call 15 minutes before we arrive on site and, once there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck.
You point and we put those items into our junk removal trucks and drive it away with no hidden fees or surprises.
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Fair and Transparent Pricing
While pricing is certainly a deciding factor, it’s not always best to choose a junk removal company with the cheapest prices. Although you want to find one that is affordable, if a company is a bit pricier than others, you may get more value for your money. Avoid a junk removal company with the cheapest rates. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Eco-Friendly and Committed to Green Practices
You don’t want to contribute junk to the landfill that could be recycled so you should hire a company with certifiably “green” processes. Not all junk removal and hauling companies will properly dispose of waste. You want to hire a company that will recycle as much material as possible and one that is committed to a clean environment and zero waste practices.
Professional, Insured and Bonded
When considering a junk removal company for your recyclable waste, always check their experience and professionalism. Is the company bonded and insured? You’ll feel safer and more at ease if you work with an insured professional. Are they using proper equipment? Are they easy to contact? Consider all these factors before deciding. Ideally, a company with solid experience, like Junk King, will do an excellent job in the shortest amount of time.
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Our Recycling Commitment to Customers, Competitors and the Planet
We founded Junk King in 2005 as the first recycling-based junk removal operation. Our junk removal franchise operates around what we call our warehouse recycling hub.
As our trucks travel throughout the day picking up unwanted items, our teams pack the truck to unpack the items quickly and efficiently at the Hub.
The goal is to be efficient in our operations and keep our landfills free of unnecessary items. Here’s a video of how this looks day in and day out in our warehouses
Not only are we pros in junk recycling, we specialize in all sorts of junk removal including:
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