Is my stuff hazardous?

During these unprecedented times, we take our role as an essential service provider seriously and we remain open to service our customers. We understand that everyone is very concerned with the potential spread of the Coronavirus. We’re following the guidelines put in place by the federal government, local governments and the CDC.

Below are some of the safety precautions we’ve implemented to protect our team and our clients:

We’re offering discounts for our customers who are able to stage their items outside of their property for pickup
We’re vetting our customers before scheduling appointments and while en-route to make sure they’re not showing signs and symptoms of illness
If the customer has access to masks or face covers, we ask that they wear them (if masks are unavailable, please maintain a safe distance of 6 feet at all times)
We are sending home any staff member exhibiting any symptoms of illness for the recommended period of time established by the CDC
All team members have been assigned masks and gloves
We are not assigning more than two team members to a truck
Our trucks and equipment are being disinfected daily
We’ve shut down our office from outside visitors and anybody who can work virtually is being encouraged to work from home
The company continues to hold regular team-wide virtual meetings to emphasize transparency and keep the lines of communication open
The decision to come to work remains 100% voluntary

Junk removal companies are limited in terms of what they can accept when they pick up your items. More often than not, if we cannot pick up a specific item, it’s because the item has been classified by the EPA as “hazardous waste.” You might be surprised to find out what items are included in that category.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most common hazardous waste items we come across. We are authorized to take some of the items, while others cannot be hauled without special EPA permits and special vehicles. Fortunately, most ordinances allow local residents to transport these items to local disposal facilities themselves.

Hazardous items

Paint. By far the most common thing we come across that we can’t actually haul. In its liquid form, paint is classified by the EPA as a hazardous waste, and requires special permits to haul and discard. Paint is also one of the easiest items for our clients to discard on their own. If you’re within our service area, your county has hazardous waste disposal options that you can find on your county’s website.

Batteries. Another common item found around the house, batteries present a disposal problem for nearly every household. Since resources are so limited for battery disposal, a lot of folks simply toss them out with the trash. Look here for some helpful tips on getting rid of batteries in a fashion that’s a little bit more earth-friendly.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). CFL bulbs are a great alternative to the old incandescent bulbs we used to use. They last much longer and they don’t require as much electricity to operate, which saves money and reduces the number of bulbs streaming into waste facilities. CFLs are still toxic, though. Most county waste facilities will accept these items, but usually on a limited basis. Check with your local county facilities to find out when and where they accept CFLs.

Electronics. We can pick these up for you! Electronic waste is the leading contributor to toxic waste in our landfills, even though it only represents a small portion of the overall waste going into landfills. 123JUNK recycles or donates ALL of the electronic items that we pick up. Whether you’ve got transistors, computer monitors, CRT televisions, stereo equipment, or any other item that plugs into a wall, we can haul it away for you and make sure that it is properly handled.