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Over the years, it has become more and more apparent just how much of an impact humans have on our planet. Our use of resources, especially non-renewable ones, combined with our decades of pollution has added up. Today, we’ve realized how we’ve negatively impacted our planet, and we’ve taken steps to reduce that impact. Recycling is one such step. While we haven’t perfected recycling just yet, what we’ve done so far has helped reduce our dependence on certain resources and eliminate some of the waste we put into landfills.
However, while many people recognize that recycling is necessary to protect our planet, it’s not always easy to recycle. Some cities have recycling programs, but some don’t. Some materials require special recycling processes that aren’t widely available. Then there’s the issue of items made up of various materials. Some of those materials may be recyclable, but some may not be. What do you do with these items? It can be difficult for the average person to disassemble a sofa, for example, just to get the metal out for recycling..
This is one area where Junk King Katy can help. While we offer junk hauling services and dumpster rental, that doesn’t mean we simply cart everything off to the landfill once we pick it up. In fact, most of what you put in your dumpster won’t make it to the dump. Here’s how Junk King helps protect the environment without putting any extra stress on our clients.
We Sort All Dumpsters
We know people rent our dumpsters for many different reasons. Some may be cleaning out their home, while others may need a place to put yard debris or DIY construction debris. You might have old cabinets and flooring in your dumpster, or you could have it full of dead bushes, old furniture, and broken appliances. We even rent to businesses, so we do expect to have dumpsters full of old marketing materials, shelving, and office equipment. Once we get a dumpster back to our warehouse, our first order of business is to separate out everything. We start with three piles:
Donate
First, we look at items that might have more life in them. Some furniture we collect is actually still in good condition. It’s worn and has been used, but it’s not ripped, stained, broken, or otherwise damaged. Someone out there could use it. The same is true of appliances that still work. They’re not ready for the dump yet. We take these items and set them aside to send to some of our local charitable organizations. These organizations are dedicated to helping those in need. Some may help struggling individuals by giving them a used appliance, while others may need furniture for a shelter.
Recycle
Second, we look for recyclable materials. Anything made from glass, metal, plastic, wood, or other recyclable materials gets set aside and grouped. We even take apart furniture and appliances that contain materials we can recycle. If it can be sent to a recycling facility, we want to pull it out and make sure it is.
Landfill
Finally, as much as we hate to, there are some items that cannot be reused or recycled. These materials do have to go to the landfill. However, by the time we reach this third stack, we’ve removed upwards of 80% or more of the dumpster’s contents. This means only a small amount of what you throw away actually ends up in the dump. There are times when we have nothing left after sorting out donations and recycling. That’s our goal—we want to keep 100% of what we collect out of the landfill. While it may not be achievable yet, we believe it will be in the future as recycling technology improves.
The Recycling Process
Junk King Katy is heavily involved in the first step of the recycling process. That step is the collection of recyclables. After we sort out all recyclable materials from our dumpsters and trucks, we make sure they get to the right facilities. A recycling center that handles plastics and glass may not be able to recycle metal, so we make certain we partner with a wide array of recycling experts.
At these facilities, the materials are cleaned, prepared, and then processed. The end result is raw material that can be used in new products and packaging. Companies then purchase these materials directly from the recycling center just as they would purchase new raw materials from other suppliers.
The final step is for consumers to then purchase products that use recycled materials from stores and other retailers. This puts the recycled material back in circulation. When the consumer puts the product or packaging into a recycling bin, Junk King dumpster, or other recycling container, the loop continues. Some materials can be recycled over and over indefinitely, while other materials may slowly wear down until they cannot be recycled any longer.
What Can Be Recycled?
Many materials can be recycled. While common household recyclables include glass, aluminum, plastic, and cardboard, there are many other materials that can also be recycled. For example, while car seats often cannot be donated, they can be recycled. Other items you may not think about tossing in the recycling bin include pots and pans, toothbrushes, shoes, glasses, CDs, and even bicycles.
Some city recycling programs won’t accept all of these items simply because they do not have the equipment needed to recycle them, so always check before putting anything in your city recycling. However, Junk King will sort out these items from our dumpsters and get them to the right facility.
Overall, as much as 75% of all items can actually be recycled. Unfortunately, we recycle far less. The U.S. sends over 200 million tons of trash to the landfill every year, and much of that could be recycled. By pledging to recycle everything we possibly can from our dumpster rentals and junk hauling services, Junk King is working to reduce this number. But we can’t do it alone, which is why we also work to raise awareness of recycling and why it’s so vital to the Earth.
Recycling is Becoming More Popular
The good news is that, according to a number of studies, recycling is becoming more popular and widespread. Recycling programs have become more available in cities across the country. Even when curbside pickup isn’t an option, people do typically have access to some kind of drop-off recycling bin or station. While these drop-off programs may be limited in what they can accept, they are a start to making recycling widespread and available to all.
Access to these programs is working. For example, between 1990 and 2010, recycling of paper products increased by also 90%. This can be attributed to both more widespread availability of recycling programs and more education about recycling and why it’s important. However, in 2009, about nine million tons of glass went into the landfill, so there is still a long way to go. How
Junk King Dumpster Rental Works
Junk King offers the MINI dumpster, a small dumpster that holds up to 12 cubic yards of trash. We offer this size dumpster because it’s the perfect balance between providing enough space for junk without being so large that it’s inconvenient. Large dumpsters may not fit in your driveway, leaving you no choice but to put it on your yard. This can leave deep impressions in the soil and kill the grass under the dumpster. With a MINI, most people can have the dumpster placed in their drive and still have room to park a car next to it. In most cases, our clients can still easily access their garage. There’s plenty of room to work around the dumpster, too.
What Can Go in Your Katy Dumpster Rental?
You can put just about anything in one of our rental dumpsters. The only thing we ask you not to put in the dumpster is hazardous waste. We cannot take this waste due to how dangerous it is. If you have anything you believe may be hazardous, give us a call. We’ll let you know if you can put it in the dumpster. If you can’t, we may be able to help you find the correct disposal partner. We take furniture, appliances, yard waste, DIY construction debris, electronics, and trash. Again, we can take items that are in good condition because they will go into our donate section. We always appreciate knowing if something can be donated, but you don’t have to let us know. We will sort everything ourselves at no cost to you. It’s a part of our basic services.
Contact Junk King Today to Learn More About Dumpster Rental
Ready to rent a dumpster? If so, the process is incredibly easy! All you need to do is call Junk King Katy at 1-888-888-JUNK and let us know when you need the dumpster and for how long you’ll need it. We’ll provide you with estimates on cost and answer any other questions you might have. You can also book online or ask for information via text to 1-737-888-5865.
