Junk Removal Bay Area: A Green Solution for a Circular Economy In recent years, several innovations are changing the way we purchase the items that we use. Many major retail stores around the country are no longer offering disposal plastic bags, thus forcing customers to act responsibly and bring their own reusable cloth bags. Fast food restaurants are also following this trend by reducing the availability of plastic straws and other one-use, disposable plastic waste. Though this is certainly a step in the right direction, it is also a relatively symbolic move. The amount of trash produced via packaging waste continues to skyrocket. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging were generated in 2018, approximately 5.0 percent of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation.” Only recently are some companies taking steps to drastically reduce, or eliminate all together, their packaging waste footprint. Furthermore, recent recyclable waste bans from China and other countries in the developing world has made it increasingly difficult for consumers in the Bay area to deal with their waste in an environmentally responsible manner. In this short article, we take a quick look at some of the exciting developments in the circular economy model aiming to eliminate certain types of post-consumer waste. We then turn our attention to how Junk King of San Carlos offers an environmentally friendly solution for other types of junk removal while the circular economy model continues to gain strength. What is the Circular Economy? According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: “Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system.” This type of economic systems focuses on design out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Some major retail outlets are now offering recycling stations for products that are purchased at their stores. Target, for example, allows customers to bring in their used child car seats and other large and hard-to-recycle products that they had previously purchased at the store. For post-consumer waste, however, reducing the amount of packaging used by everyday products is a serious challenge. Instead of focusing singularly on recycling discarded packaging, some innovative companies are now focusing on the issue of reuse. Loop is a company focused on helping large, well-known brands to shift towards reusable packaging for their products. With the Loop circular model, consumers pay a refundable deposit for each package. They then use the products, and return the empty containers into a Loop tote. The reusable packaging is then sent back to the manufacturer to be cleaned and refilled. Examples of Loop packaging include reusable yogurt containers, bottles of cleaning products, toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles and more. Used furniture, hot tubs, construction debris, electronic waste (e-waste), used appliances, are just a few of the items that we pick up and either recycle or donate. Our company is also proud to say that we offer superior customer service. We have dedicated staff waiting to answer your call and help you find an effective solution for junk removal needs. For online and text price estimates, we also make every effort to give you a response in 10 minutes or less. Fair pricing, quality customer service, and a sincere commitment to recycling or reusing at least 60 percent of the junk we pick up are just a few of the reasons that Junk King is the Bay area’s number one preferred junk removal Bay Area service. Simply call us at 1-888-5865(JUNK) or consider booking us online here. Again, we offer up-front pricing that will leave you feeling like the weight of your clutter has been lifted off your shoulders. Call us today to help free up space in your home or business without so much as lifting a finger. Junk Removal Bay Area: A Green Solution for a Circular EconomyÂ