Where does your junk go? The top 3 items junk recyclers haul away
Ever wonder what happens to your junk after we haul it away? Follow along on the journey your junk takes once it's in the truck.
Junk is a bit of a mystery. We don’t really know why we hang onto it, and half the time we can’t remember how we even got it in the first place. But the biggest mystery of all is this: what happens to your junk after you get rid of it? To get a better idea of where everything ends up, let’s take a look at all the stops our trucks make to drop off all the junk we collect.
We make a huge effort to divert pieces from landfills wherever possible, but since some items can’t be recycled, some of the junk does go straight to the landfill. The truck also makes a stop at the transfer station. Here, it gets sorted and is then sent on to other facilities, being reused, repurposed, or recycled as much as possible.
We also head to the recycling depot, where things like plastics, metals, batteries, building materials, propane tanks, and more are separated and recycled. Some items that can’t be recycled are converted into energy. Using a variety of methods (typically involving applying high temperatures) the waste is converted to energy that can be used for heat, electricity, and fuel.
Items that still have some life left in them are donated to charities so they can be enjoyed by others. Finally, items that aren’t in working order, but can be broken down into usable parts are taken to the salvage yard. Here, they are taken apart and the pieces are then resold or recycled.
3 common items that can be recycled
Now that we have an idea of the journey your junk goes on when you’re done with it, let’s take a closer look at how some of the most common junk items are actually broken down and reused.
1. TVs & computer monitors
While we used to hang onto TVs for years and years, these days they are replaced a bit more often. With old CRT units, they must be carefully broken down to remove any lead, which can be quite dangerous if not done correctly. Even newer flat screen units contain mercury and other toxic materials that have to be carefully removed before the other components can be recycled. Once broken down, the plastic, wood and copper coil found on the back of the CRT can be sold and turned into new products. Also, the circuit boards contain gold, platinum, and other precious metals that can be resold and reused.
2. Fridges & freezers
When your fridge or freezer has bitten the dust and just isn’t working anymore, it’s time to send it to a better place. (That place being a recycling facility.) First, all the coolant chemicals are carefully removed, leaving the body intact. If the item is still in decent shape, it’s often refurbished and resold domestically or overseas. If it can’t be fixed up, it is taken apart and separated into materials to be recycled individually.
3. Mattresses
Even though that old mattress might not be suitable for sleeping on, it can live on thanks to the recycling process. First, it’s deconstructed so each different material can be individually recycled. The metal springs (often made of steel) are either shredded or crushed into cubes, and these are sold for new uses. Quilting and foam can be transformed into carpet underlay, while the wood is recycled, and the fabric can be recycled into new felt and insulation.
Now that you know a little more about what happens to your junk, you can rest easy knowing that everything has been properly taken care of. The environment will thank you!
Frequently asked questions
We price based on how much space your items take up in the back of our truck, broken down into ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾ of a truckload, all the way up to a full truckload. Our trucks hold the equivalent of seven pickup trucks.
Our prices vary based on location and there is a minimum charge for our teams to remove your items, which is different in each location, based on a number of factors, including local disposal and recycling fees.
We offer single item pricing for certain items such as mattresses or TVs, sometimes this will be less than our minimum charge.
For materials that have a heavy cubic weight like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume that the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Watch us load up a truck to see how our standard pricing works!
If you need service weekly, monthly, or quarterly, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-888-475-3461 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call or text 25-30 mins before we arrive to let you know we’re on our way.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighborhood, you can start a booking by entering your zip code here.
Our customer service center is open 24/7, so we’re here whenever you need us! While operating hours may vary in our franchise locations, we offer same-day and off-hours service, including weekends.
