Whether you’re moving, trying to declutter your space, or simply get tired of living in clutter, you may decide that you’re ready to throw away the excess. One way is to hire a professional waste removal company.
But how do you keep unwanted belongings from going straight to landfills? The best approach is to choose an eco-friendly junk removal service that maintains certain environmental standards. We’ve put together a roundup of some of the top options for donating, recycling, or reusing unwanted items. We encourage you to support your business.
Recommended by top junk removal companies
Each product listed here has been individually selected by our writers. We currently have no financial relationship with any of these providers.
Each of these junk removal services has a zip code entry form that you can use to find your nearest branch.
Why choose our eco-friendly junk removal service?
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What are the key factors to consider when looking for an environmentally friendly demolition and disposal contractor?
These are just some of the things to keep in mind when choosing the best junk removal team.
what happens to the junk?
Always be clear what happens to unwanted items in your cart. Reputable services partner with charities to donate usable items like clothing and furniture, and recycle other materials to keep as much of it out of landfills as possible.
How much do they divert from landfills?
Before you hire a junk removal company, always ask them to clarify what percentage of their “junk” will be donated or recycled instead of being dumped in a landfill. We recommend choosing a company that offers some degree of transparency in this aspect so that the goods are handled in an environmentally friendly manner.
What items do they get?
You should also clarify which items the company will accept and which items it will not, if any. do they take the furniture? What about electronics and exercise equipment? Particular clarification should be made as to whether the removal of e-waste, that is, electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life and needs special attention because it will be recycled or recycled in some way, is required.
Are they environmentally friendly?
Try to find a junk removal company that extols environmental considerations and outlines a long list of specific policies. Where and how do you separate recyclables and dispose of junk? Again, transparency is very important.
are they reputable?
Before hiring a junk disposal service, it is never a bad idea to check if they are Better Business Bureau certified. Sometimes you can get a rough idea of what you’re thinking. This also allows you to check coverage areas to make sure it’s available where you live.
Prices?
Finally, affordability should also be kept in mind. Feel free to compare and contrast prices when looking for junk removal services. Some offer up-front pricing, while others require an on-site quote.
Full Review of Top Junk Removal Companies
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junk king
Junk King claims to be the best and greenest junk removal service in America. That’s a pretty lofty claim, but it’s something they back up with proven records.
Here are some of our favorite things about Junk King.
- They offer full-service junk removal from coast to coast, making eco-friendly hauling services available in most areas.
- We reuse or recycle about 60% of our junk. We appreciate the transparency in identifying how much is being diverted from landfills.
- It can handle just about any kind of junk, from hot tubs and electronics to furniture and old appliances. E-waste can also be processed.
- Junk King also provides free written estimates with no obligation to use the service.
Reason to buy: Junk King excels in environmental management, transparency and range of services. You can recycle tons of items, from large appliances and furniture to electronics like TVs.
Junk Lagers
The Junkluggers is a waste disposal company that specializes in environmentally friendly junk removal. They offer a ‘green guarantee’ on their approach to waste management and unwanted junk.Junkluggers standouts include:
- They always strive to donate first and recycle second.
- They promise 100% customer satisfaction.
- They work with reputable charities and non-profit partners to ensure your items are put to good use.
- There are various services such as e-waste removal.
Reason to buy: Junkluggers is committed to sustainability, including a commitment to donate/recycle as many items as possible. We love their commitment to sustainable junk removal and partnering with charities.
Load
LoadUp is currently active in approximately 170 cities and growing all the time. It’s definitely worth double-checking if they offer service in your area.
Here are some things I like about LoadUp:
- They offer a variety of services including junk removal, indoor pickup, and outdoor pickup.
- You can handle a wide range of items such as furniture and electrical appliances.
- They do a great job of presenting clear and up-front pricing.
LoadUp makes every effort to donate or recycle junk wherever possible, diverting over 3 million pounds of junk from landfills to date.
Reason to buy: LoadUp is a fast-growing junk disposal service that offers a wide range of services and prepaid affordable prices.
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving
The College HUNKS team is probably best known as a moving service, but they can definitely help if you need to dispose of unwanted items. All of their team members are well trained to work efficiently, provide friendly customer service and show respect for your home or business.
- You can specifically ask for a “donation pick-up” where old furniture and other unwanted items are grabbed and taken to a designated charity drop-off center.
- They take a wide range of items and make it easy to determine the total price for their services.
- They are committed to being responsibly eco-friendly and can recycle up to 70% of everything they remove.
Reasons to buy: The College HUNKS team has a reputation for customer service. We also donate goods in partnership with Goodwill Industries and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Plus, donate two of his meals to kids through US Hunger for each service they complete.
1-800-GOT-JUNK
1-800-GOT-JUNK claims to be the world’s largest junk removal company. Like other providers, we partner with local chapters of national charities such as The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries and Habitat for Humanity. I also like it for the following reasons:
- They offer clear upfront pricing.
- They demonstrate an admirable commitment to responsible disposal, primarily through recycling, to keep things out of landfills.
- They have a 24/7 customer service line that makes it easy to schedule service at any time.
- They take a wide range of items and operate across the United States and in multiple countries.
Reason to buy: 1-800-GOT-JUNK is a powerhouse of waste collection space. We recycle some unique items such as green waste and biomass, tires and construction waste.
Habitat for Humanity Restore
What about those who prefer the DIY route of bringing their unwanted items to a collection center rather than having someone come pick them up? I can’t. The best place for DIY junk disposal is Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Furniture and home center items you no longer need can be brought to the ReStore. There they are cleaned up and sold to the public at a deep discount. This is the ideal way to ensure that your waste gets a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.
Reason to buy: Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is perfect for DIY junk removal. They give used items a second life and help provide furniture and other household items to people in need.
Is Junk Removal Really Green?
If you’re considering using an eco-friendly junk removal service, I encourage you to take a step back and consider how these companies work.
We usually start by getting a quote. This should inform the company of the amount of junk that needs to be removed, the location (indoors or outdoors), and the contents. This allows the junk removal company to dispatch the appropriate personnel and equipment to remove it and ensure that the item in question is not hazardous.
A junk removal company will assess if the item is still usable or if it can be refurbished. If so, the item may be donated to a shelter or other charity. Alternatively, they try to recycle your items. The goal of eco-friendly junk removal companies is to divert items from landfills, and you can always ask representatives of your chosen company about the percentage of items they typically divert.
What items can junk companies recycle or donate?
There are many types of items that can be recycled or donated to keep them out of landfills. Some of the most common categories are:
- furniture appliances
- exercise equipment
- clothing and shoes
- jewelry
- books
- interior decoration
- Cookware and kitchenware
- Art supplies
- toys and board games
- Paper, metal, cardboard, brick products
- brushes and garden trash
Again, we recommend contacting a junk hauler for an appraisal to see if your item can be donated or recycled.
What is e-waste and how is it bad for the environment?
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It is important to specifically mention e-waste, or e-waste.
As mentioned above, e-waste is a category that includes electronic devices that are discarded after their useful life.
One of the reasons e-waste is so dangerous to the environment is that many electronic and computerized devices contain toxic substances, including lead, beryllium, and cadmium. When they permeate land and water, these substances can have long-term adverse effects on local ecosystems and even lead to public health concerns.
It is always important to ensure that e-waste is handled in an environmentally friendly manner by a company that specializes in the disposal of electronic devices and computers.
Find the right junk removal company near you
There are many factors to consider when looking for the right junk removal service, including price, scope of service, and of course environmental friendliness.
Josh Hurst Journalist, critic, essayist. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and his three sons. Naturally covers health, nutrition, supplements and clean his energy. His work appears in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.
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