8 Junk Removal Tips to Make Your Next Cleanup Easier
Spring cleaning or even a DIY construction project can benefit from a junk hauler
When it’s time to purge an attic or garage, clean out a rental, get rid of remodeling debris, or remove a worn-out appliance, a junk removal service is the perfect option. But junk removal and hauling is more than just taking out the trash.
Junk haulers will remove boxes for recycling as well as tear down and haul away sheds, barns, and more. Before you have your junk hauled away for good, read these eight junk removal tips to ensure a stress-free experience.
1. Know the Difference Between Junk Hauling vs. Dumpster Rental
A junk removal service will bring their own containers, fill them with your items, and then dispose of the contents. If you rent a dumpster, a company will drop it off at your location, and you’ll have to do the heavy lifting—or dumping in this case.
Dumpster rental is a good option if you are planning to clean out a space over the course of several days or if you are doing DIY home renovations that require some demolition. Note that some companies offer both junk hauling and dumpster rental services, so take the time to research which option works best for you.
| Junk Hauling Details | Dumpster Rental Details |
|---|---|
| Often a one-day project | Multi-day rental (days or weeks) |
| Pros load junk into container they provide for you | Fill dumpster yourself |
| Pros will dispose of junk | Pros will haul dumpster at the end of your contracted time |
| Average cost: $240 | Average cost: $380 per week |
2. Consider What Type of Junk You Need Removed
Junk removal companies accept a variety of items, but you’ll want to confirm they have the capability to pick up the specific things you’re getting rid of—especially if you’ve got a lot of heavy items or something that could be considered hazardous waste. On average, junk hauling costs $240 but can be more, depending on size, weight, and quantity.
Typical items that junk removers will haul away include:
Furniture
Appliances
Carpeting
Mattresses
Scrap metal
Renovation debris
Trash
Yard waste
Electronic equipment
3. Get a Quote
As with any project you’re considering hiring out, you’ll want to get at least three quotes for comparison before you sign off on the cost. Once you get some estimates for how much junk removal costs, you can compare what’s included in each price. If you see items on one quote that are not on other quotes, you can ask the company whose quote doesn’t include that item if it’s part of the estimate and why or why not.
Average Junk Removal Cost
Your cost will depend largely on the amount of junk you need to toss, but here’s what you can expect to pay for the average job.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60 | $240 | $600 |
Average Dumpster Rental Cost
One alternative to a junk removal service is to rent a dumpster. You’ll have to do the work of hauling yourself, but you’ll have a more flexible timeline as you can rent a dumpster for a week or more.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $200 per week | $380 per week | $800 per week |
4. Questions to Ask the Junk Hauling Company
Understanding how the junk hauling company operates and what they require helps you know what to expect and see what is factored into the quote. Ask how they haul the junk, what kind of space they need for their vehicle, if they need permits for the containers, and who secures the permits. This will help you to prepare in case you need to park your vehicle at the neighbor’s and if you need to obtain any permits.
Also, ask if there is anything the hauler won’t take. This can vary from company to company.
| Items Junk Haulers Won’t Take | Items Junk Haulers Will Take |
|---|---|
| Medications | Most appliances |
| Tires | Electronics |
| Cans of paint | Furniture |
| Fertilizer | Yard waste |
| Household cleaners | Blankets |
| Pool chemicals | Hot tub/spa |
| Varnish/stain | Exercise equipment |
| Car batteries | Construction debris |
5. Sort Your Items
Another essential step involves properly sorting your items. You’ll want to separate the hazardous materials from other items, so you can follow the rules for proper disposal. You can also sort items based on recyclability, making it easy to gather them up and take them to the recycling center when it’s time.
6. Recycle What You Can
To keep your belongings out of the landfill, some hauling companies have dedicated warehouse space to sort and properly dispose of everything they collect. Others take items straight to the local landfill or other trash collection sites. Don’t hesitate to ask if this is a question you want answered.
Many electronics contain materials that can be reused, but they also contain some hazardous materials. For example, mobile phones can contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium. These metals must be disposed of correctly.
While still-functioning electronics can be donated to a charity, broken items should be sent to the proper recycling facility. Similarly, a recycling center must collect freon from old refrigerators and air conditioners before the appliance is recycled.
Even mattresses, box springs, and large furniture can contain harmful chemicals. Thankfully, 80% to 90% of mattress materials are recyclable, and most furniture can be recycled or reused.
Non-recyclable items include:
Garden hoses
Sewing needles
Food-soiled paper
Propane tanks or cylinders
Aerosol cans that aren’t empty
Certain plastics and glass
Certain batteries
Certain light bulbs
7. Prepare Items for Pickup
You might need to clear a path to the door, move other vehicles in the vicinity, or have everything in one place when preparing for your local junk-hauling service to arrive. If you have anything tricky, such as a piano on the second floor or trunks in the attic, let your pros know ahead of time.
Find out if the hauler wants everything outside or if they are willing to carry the items from your home. This could be a key factor in what company you choose if you’re unable to move things yourself.
Other ways to prepare your junk for pickup include:
Creating a detailed list of items to be removed by haulers
Labeling items to designate what is to be removed (try using Post-it notes)
Separate donations from the junk pile to avoid confusion
8. Check the Weather and Your Calendar Before Scheduling
If you can, schedule the hauling on a day with a clear forecast. No one wants to schlep anything in the rain—and you risk the junk haulers canceling if the weather is bad.
Also, aim to schedule on a slow day when you can be home. If you don’t have any other plans that day, you won’t feel rushed if something unexpected happens. Plan to be there the entire time to make sure everything gets loaded and to answer any questions.
Free Junk Removal Options
Don’t want to pay to haul your junk away? Junk haulers don’t haul junk away for free, but there are some options to recycle or redistribute your items free of charge. If you’re unsure if your items qualify for free removal, contact your town or municipality to get further disposal information.
Yard Waste
If you have a ton of yard waste and don’t want to compost it, check with your regular trash removal company. During certain seasons, especially fall, they may pick up your properly bagged yard debris or Christmas tree and dispose of it for free. Parks and recreation organizations will sometimes offer this service as well to create mulch for their trails and gardens.
Charity Pickup
Charitable organizations, such as Goodwill and Salvation Army, will often pick up your large donations for free. If you’re getting rid of furniture or many bags of clothing and/or household goods, you might save yourself the cost of hauling. Call your local charity and ask about this service.
Free With Pickup
If you have items that still have some life in them, like an old shed or swing set, consider posting them on an online marketplace as “free with pickup only.”
You can set the item on your curb and let whoever’s interested come haul it away for you without spending a dime.
Check into your city’s bulk trash day as well. You can put any unwanted items on the curb or alley, and they’ll be picked up by a certain date. However, these items will often be claimed by a passerby before the trash collector ever arrives, depending on the shape it’s in. Keep an eye on any rules from your homeowner's association before you bring junk to the curb, however.
If you still have junk you need hauled away and you have the vehicle capable of pulling one, check into the cost to rent a dump trailer and haul the items to the dump or another location yourself. But it’s always worth contacting a local junk removal company for information and estimates to see if that’s the right option for you.
Lisa Gauthier Mitchison and Josh Maday contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Renting a dumpster costs anywhere from $290 to $480, depending on where you live and the dumpster size needed for your project. A junk removal company can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 for smaller jobs, and larger jobs run $130 to $360 or more. It ultimately depends on the size you need and the amount of junk you have.
Tipping the junk removal workers is completely your cal, and you’re by no means required to give the workers a tip. However, if you’re pleased with the service and think it was a job well done, then a $10 tip or more would be appropriate and highly appreciated.
Unsurprisingly, one of the busiest seasons for junk haulers is the springtime. After all, it’s not called spring cleaning for nothing! If your junk removal schedule is flexible enough, booking your junk removal for the winter might be the best option for you. You’ll be faced with more availability and even a possible discount since the colder months are generally slower for junk haulers. If you are getting rid of unneeded junk during warmer months, call a junk removal specialist in advance to ensure they get you on the schedule.
Depending on the junk you’re getting rid of, you may or may not have free junk removal options. Things like yard waste can often be picked up with your regular waste removal, and charities like Goodwill or the Salvation Army can pick up some junk that you want to downsize free of charge. However, if you have items like a broken television, miscellaneous wood boards, or unusable car tires, for example, you might have to pay a nominal fee to dispose of them.