Over the years, more and more trash has ended up going to the landfill. Studies have found that every person in the U.S. creates around 2,500 pounds of trash every year. Industrial processes and manufacturing make much, much more. Overall, the U.S. creates around 300 million tons of trash every year, but only about a fourth of that gets recycled. Some is composted or incinerated, but we’re still sending more than half of all the garbage we make to the landfill every year. Something must be done about this.

As an average person in Dallas, what can you do? You can’t change how large businesses and manufacturers operate, nor can you make new regulations related to waste and recycling. While it may not seem like much, you don’t need to do any of that to make a difference. Instead, you simply need to look at the amount of trash you make and take steps to redirect as much of it as possible from the landfill. Here are some ways you can do that and how Junk King Dallas can help.

Start with Recycling

One of the easiest ways you can redirect junk away from the landfill is by recycling. The City of Dallas provides residents with rolling carts for their recycling. All you have to do is put them at the curb on the designated day for pickup. Using the city’s recycling program is perfect for getting rid of plastics, paper, and other basic recyclable materials that will fit in the bins. If you have a lot of recyclables every week, you can request a second bin at no additional cost or even purchase a third for a fee. 

There are some limitations to using these carts, of course. For starters, they’re not big enough to recycle large items. They’re designed for household recyclables, but you may find that some large cardboard boxes won’t fit in the bin unless cut apart. The city also has some limitations on what they can pick up and recycle. For example, electronics must be taken to one of the e-waste recycling centers in the city. They cannot be put in the recycling cart.

In addition to specific electronic waste centers, there are also a number of recycling drop-off locations. These locations are perfect for those who live in apartments or condos that don’t have recycling carts or other options for recycling. Again, you do have to drive to one of these bins, and there are limits to what types of materials you can put in them. However, it’s better than nothing, and it’s a good way to recycle much of the packaging, junk mail, and other garbage you create. 

Donate What You Can

If you have something you don’t need but can’t necessarily recycle, can you donate it to someone? You may have a friend or family member who could use the item. College students or those who have recently moved into their own apartment or home may want any furniture you have that’s still in good condition but no longer fits with your style or in your space. You might have some old dishes that are perfectly good but not really what you like now. Giving them to someone else is a great way of getting rid of them without contributing to the landfill.

You can also donate to a number of charities. Some organizations accept donations for the homeless, veterans, or those escaping from domestic violence. Shelters may have need of old coats and sheets, while soup kitchens may have use for some of your old dining chairs. Some of these organizations may even be able to pick up your donations, so you don’t even have to have a vehicle.

There are also organizations such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill that resell donations to raise money for those in need or to provide jobs to those under-employed demographics. While they may not pick up your items, they may have drop-off bins for clothing and other small donations. 

There are some websites and social media groups dedicated to the idea of “freecycling.” This is a great way to give away things you don’t want but that aren’t trash. Some sites and groups let you post items you have for others to take, while others allow people to post requests as well. Each site and group has its own rules, so be sure you read and understand them before you participate. 

Can You Sell Old Items?

You can resell some items if they’re in good condition. Note that these items are going to have to be in very good condition or be sold for fairly cheap. While some may take something for free that has a little damage or stain marks on it, those same people may balk if asked to pay for anything that isn’t perfect. 

There are a number of avenues for reselling things. You can have a yard sale. This is one of the easiest options, though it does have some drawbacks. You have to do all the work, including setting up the tables, pricing items, and selling them. People will be all over your yard or driveway, too. Many also equate yard sales with cheap, so be ready to have some people try to haggle or say that your prices are too high. 

There are a few other things to consider, too. It can be hard to get people to stop at your yard sale, especially if you’re not on a fairly busy street. You’ll need to put up signs to help bring in customers. Bad weather can also be a challenge. Be sure you have the proper permits to hold a yard sale, too. Typically, sales tax is due on many of the items sold at yard sales. 

Just like donating items online, you can also sell online. Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and other websites can help you reach a large audience. You’ll need to have a good camera or phone with a camera that can take high resolution pictures. People will want to see different angles of the item. You’ll want to include as many details in your listing as possible so people know exactly what they’re buying. 

Finally, you may be able to take some of your items, especially furniture, to a local consignment shop. The shop will handle all of the work of displaying your items and selling them, but they will take a cut. This cut may be larger than what online platforms like eBay take, but you don’t have to worry about taking photos or shipping the items. 

Call Junk King Dallas to Help You Get Rid of Stuff

You may think calling a junk hauling service to get rid of things like old furniture, appliances, and other things that are still usable is a waste. After all, these companies just take it all to the dump, right? Some do, but Junk King Dallas does not. We’re just as dedicated to protecting the environment as you are. Our goal is to redirect as much of what we pick up as possible away from the landfill.

That starts with donations. We work with a number of organizations in the Dallas area that need gently used furniture and other things. If we pick up a refrigerator that still works, we won’t throw it away. We’ll reach out to one of these groups and pass it on if possible. 

If it’s something that can’t be donated, we then look to see if we can recycle it. There are some things that are obviously recyclable, but there are some that aren’t. We will disassemble items that have recyclable components and recycle them. Once we’re done with donating and recycling, we’ve usually emptied out about 60 to 70 percent of our truck. What’s left does, unfortunately, go to the landfill. However, we’re always looking for opportunities to redirect even more trash from the landfill.

What Can Junk King Haul Away?

We can haul off just about anything. We take old furniture, broken appliances, yard debris, trash from DIY construction projects, electronics, hot tubs, old boats, and much more. We will pick up a few things if that’s all you have, but we will also help with foreclosure cleanouts and with hoarder homes. The only thing we can’t deal with is hazardous waste. Everything else can go right into our truck.

We will even handle carrying the items out of your home. You don’t need to get them to the curb or even the front door. Just let us know what you want us to take and we will do the rest. We’ll even handle going up and down stairs if you have a multi-story home or live in an apartment or condo. 

Call Junk King Dallas Today for a Free, No-Obligation Quote

If you’ve got some furniture, appliances, and other junk that you need to get rid of but also don’t want it all to go to the landfill, reach out to Junk King Dallas today. We’ll redirect as much of it as possible to other areas. You can get a free quote by calling us at 1-888-888-JUNK, texting us at 1-737-888-5865, or by using our free online pricing tool.