Tag: junk hauling NoVa MD DC

minimal-waste-junk-removal

Environmentally-Friendly Minimal Waste Junk Removal

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

In the fast-paced environment of the Washington DC metropolitan region, clutter can easily and quickly accumulate in our homes and offices. But getting rid of that clutter shouldn’t have to come at a cost to the environment. By performing environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal, 123JUNK helps home and business owners dispose of their unwanted items in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Minimal waste junk removal is a foundational element of our company’s 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. It is our commitment to prioritizing reuse and recycling to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment. Our team of professionals understands the importance of this and looks for ways on every pickup to divide out items that can be repurposed, donated or recycled.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal

We offer convenient and hassle-free junk removal services to leave you with a clutter-free space. Let us remove your furniture, appliances and electronic waste—or whatever you’d like to clear out. To make the process easier, we’ll provide you with upfront flat-fee pricing. You’ll know the cost of our service before the work ever begins.

123JUNK is fully insured, giving you peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your property. We take great care to protect your home and your belongings during the junk removal process. We’ll even sweep clean the area when we’re finished. This level of professionalism and attention to detail sets 123JUNK apart.

Education on the Importance of Minimal Waste

Our commitment to environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal doesn’t stop here. We also raise consciousness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, and provide helpful tips through our blog and programs on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We believe that even small changes can have a big impact.

Working Towards Zero Waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that many communities across the country are even working towards zero waste, a concept that “goes beyond recycling and composting at the end of a product’s life cycle to encompass the entire life cycle of a product, beginning with product design, and envisioning the use and management of materials in ways that preserve value, minimize environmental impacts, and conserve natural resources.”

We’re getting there. Washington DC’s recycling rate stands at about 30% and around 43% is reported in Virginia, while Maryland reports a recycling rate of 45%. Overall, the EPA finds that the current US household recycling rate lies at 32%.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal from 123JUNK in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC

If you are looking for an environmentally-friendly solution to your junk removal and hauling needs in Washington DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia, look no further than 123JUNK. With our commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment and providing convenient and professional services, we’re the clear choice for anyone looking to declutter in a responsible and sustainable manner. Contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your pickup appointment today and enjoy a clutter-free and eco-friendly life!

 

Meet Nick Williams, Truck Lead and Customer Success Representative

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

We are pleased to introduce you to Nick Williams, another fantastic team member here at 123JUNK.  Learn a little about Nick and follow his journey.

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”  –Henry Ford

What is your role at 123JUNK?

During the work week I am mainly a truck lead, and on weekends I am a Customer Success Representative. I’m three days on the truck and two days in the office. As a truck lead, I am the spokesperson for the company when we meet with a client. I interact with the clients, keep things moving, and make sure the job gets done properly. On the weekends, I answer phones, make calls, and make sure every client has as great an experience as they can—even if they aren’t calling for a job.

What has your journey at 123JUNK been?

When I first started at 123JUNK I was a navigator. I sat in the passenger seat and followed instructions for the first couple of months. But I wanted to become a lead, and the company helped me progress. I became a lead pretty quickly after joining, then was given the opportunity to become a Customer Success Representative.

When did you start working there?

I started in July 2021, so it’s been over a year now.

What did you do before working at 123JUNK?

I worked at a moving company for a couple of years. I was a mover for a while, and then became a lead over there as well to make sure jobs went well. Working for a moving company prepared me for this job. Compared to working for the mover, which was more physically demanding, this seems like a cakewalk! My whole career so far has been in customer service in one way or another.

How did you hear about 123JUNK?

My mother is a Realtor locally. She had a couple of good experiences with the company, and told me about them.

Tell us about your background.

I was born in Fairfax, Virginia and lived here my whole life. I went to Chantilly High School, then Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling for 1 ½ years as a business administrator major. Then I started working and put school on hold. I will go back and finish eventually.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I enjoy working out, lifting weights, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. I also appreciate the outdoors and love to go hiking.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love motorcycles and trucks. I own a pickup truck and a Harley.

What is an important lesson you’ve learned while working at 123JUNK?

Every day will be different and as long as you keep pushing through, you’ll figure out a way to get through it. Keep a good attitude and every day you’ll find something to look forward to.

What advice would you give to someone just starting at 123JUNK?

Learn from your co-workers, from everyone who’s been here a while. They’ll show you the ropes. Keep pushing forward and you’ll figure it out, and then it all becomes second nature pretty quickly.

Any advice for someone looking to join 123JUNK?

You’re going to get dirty, but as long as you’re OK with that, you’ll be fine.

Working With 123JUNK is a Great Experience!

It’s the great people like Nick Williams who make both working at and working with 123JUNK such a great experience. We hope you get a chance to work with Nick too.

If you’d like to work at 123JUNK, visit our Job Openings.

To schedule a junk hauling appointment, contact our team at 1-800-364-5778 and speak with a live representative. We serve families and business owners throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

landfill-global-warming

Landfills Contribute to Global Warming

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

There are more than 1,250 landfills in the United States, primarily located in the Southern and Western states. And although the number of landfills has decreased significantly since the 1990s, landfills still contribute to global warming more that we would like.

“Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for approximately 14.5 percent of these emissions in 2020,
reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “The methane emissions from landfills in 2020 were approximately equivalent to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from about 20.3 million passenger vehicles driven for one year, or the carbon dioxide emissions from nearly 11.9 million homes’ energy use for one year.”

Landfill Greenhouse Gases Lead to Global Warming

Greenhouse gases are perhaps the biggest environment threat posed by landfills and huge contributors to global warming and climate change. In the U.S., landfills are the 3rd largest source of methane emissions.

The methane gas that landfills produce is about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and a threat to our climate. Their odors can permeate neighborhoods and the gases can produce birth defects, respiratory diseases, headaches, sleeping difficulties and irritation of the eyes, throat and nose for those living near landfills. Methane is also highly flammable and combustible, and can lead to landfill fires that destroy neighboring habitats and pollute the air.

Other Effects of Landfills

More than 254 million tons of waste are tossed into landfills each year. That’s about 4.4 pounds of trash per day per person. When trash is buried in a landfill, it is extremely slow to break down. In addition, pests are attracted, runoff poisons our soil and groundwater, and the land is destroyed for any future purpose. The effects can last for years—and generations.

Electronic waste is added can contain a long list of hazardous toxins including mercury, acids, lead, PVC and cadmium. Other dangerous toxins can come from fertilizers, expired products and pharmaceutical waste.

Related: Land of Waste: American Landfills and Waste Production

How Can You Help Landfills NOT Contribute to Global Warming?

Our mission at 123JUNK has become even more important as our planet is seeing the increased impacts of global warming, where fires, floods, droughts rage through communities, putting lives and futures at risk.

Because we know that landfills contribute to global warming, through our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we pledge to keep as much of the items we pick up from your homes and offices out of our area landfills as possible. We separate out the perfectly-good items, or items you want to donate, and deliver them to our hand-picked charitable partners, who provide them to families in need or sell them in their donation centers to raise money for their causes. You don’t need to separate out the items you’ve identified for removal. We’ll do it for you.

After we’ve determined which items we can donate, we’ll divide out recyclable items like bundles of newspapers, books, wood, aluminum, plastics and electronics and deliver those items to the appropriate local recycling centers where their materials can be recycled into other products.

And only when we have exhausted all ways to repurpose your items do we deliver the remainder to the landfills.

Choose 123JUNK for Environmentally-Conscious Junk Removal in NoVA, MD and DC

You can do your bit to help negate global warming by contacting 123JUNK for your home or office junk removal. Donate furniture and household goods. Recycle electronics. And let us help keep landfills from contributing to global warming and climate changes.

Contact 123JUNK today at 1-800-364-5778 to learn more about our donation pickup and delivery services, or to schedule your pick in Northern VA, Washington DC, or Maryland.

woman assisting older woman

7 Tips For Clearing out Grandma’s Stuff

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Life happens. And unfortunately, one of the realities of life is the loss of your parents and grandparents. It is a traumatic time filled with many decisions…including “what do we do with grandma’s stuff?” At 123JUNK, we’re here to help make at least that decision easier.

We understand, and are sympathetic to, the emotions that go along with the loss of a loved one, whether it be a parent, grandparent, or any other family member. It something nobody wants to go through, but it is an inevitability of life. That’s why we make sure that when you call, you speak to someone in person…every time. We don’t believe your call should go through an automated answering service.

Emotions not only surround the loss of the person, they emerge again when it’s time to deal with their belongings. And after a lifetime of raising a family, a house can be filled. Having a good way to clean out grandma’s stuff is essential. Here are some tips that can help you navigate that process.

7 Tips for Clearing out Grandma’s Stuff

 

Look for Legal and Financial Documents

Find and preserve any papers or documents that relate to legal, financial or insurance matters. Look in filing cabinets, the office, drawers, and even hidden places. Put these in a safe place where they won’t get tossed out.

Preserve Photographs and Memorabilia

Photographs and items with special memories can’t be replaced. Pack these items up separately and remove them from the sorting areas. Keep them for yourself, or divide these items up among family members as cherished keepsakes. If you no longer want to keep the memorabilia later, you can always take digital photographs and donate the items.

Ask for Help

Going through grandma’s stuff on your own is a huge and stressful tasks. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. They’re probably looking for ways to help you navigate through the grief and will be glad to lend a hand. Assign them limited-time shifts to prevent burnout, and remember to take it easy yourself. Emotions will be on high alert.

Sort into Piles

Create a sorting system, and place items into piles marked “Keep,” “Donate,” “Sell,” and “Toss.” For larger items like furniture, use color-coded tags. If items are designated for specific family members, attach a name tag to them and place them aside.

Related: 21 Useful Tips for Cleaning Out Your Elderly Parent’s House

Go Through Everything

People tend to hide valuables in safe spaces, so as you are sorting, open every drawer and box, and check through clothing pockets. Be careful not to get bogged down or stalled in the memories. Keep to the task of sorting and clearing out. You can always set items or boxes aside and go through them later if you need to. A professional organizer can assist you with the overwhelming task of going through everything while keeping on task.

Get Appraisals

If grandma’s stuff includes high-value items like jewelry or artwork that you’d like to sell, hire an appraiser to give you an estimate of its value.

Contact 123JUNK to Donate, Recycle or Dispose of Grandma’s Stuff

From your first call to 123JUNK, you’ll notice is our exemplary customer service. Since everyone’s stuff has memories attached—including grandma’s stuff—we make it a point to treat you and your loved one’s belongings with the utmost courtesy and respect. We’ll listen to what you need and provide you with an easy-to-manage all-inclusive price quote.

You’ll love our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. We’ll take items that can be reused or repurposed and donate them to our charity partners, who will use them for families in need or sell them to raise money for their causes. We’ll separate out items that can be recycled, like papers, magazines, electronics, and metals, and deliver those to the area recycling station. And since it’s our mission to keep as much out of landfills as possible, we’ll take only what’s left over to the dump.

If you’ve taken the time to sort into “donate” and “toss” piles, simply point us to them. But don’t worry if you haven’t. Our team members are well-trained in sorting items on the spot. Our job is to remove as much stress as possible out of the job of clearing out grandma’s stuff.

When you need to clear out a home in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC that is filled with a lifetime of memories, contact 123JUNK.

living room with a lit fireplace

Designer Secrets for Home Staging

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Thinking of selling your home? Now is a great time! To get top dollar for your home sale, professionals suggest staging it, either by doing it yourself, or hiring a professional staging company. Here are some of the designer secrets for home staging.

The top selling point for a home is, of course, location, location, location. Next in line though, is “curb appeal.” This is not only the first impression when the potential home buyer drives up, it is also the first impressions they receive inside your home. That’s why physical or virtual home staging is so important for both an unoccupied and a currently occupied home.

Things that home buyers love include:

  • Spotlessly clean; clean above, below and around items
  • Light and bright; sunlit; welcoming light colors
  • Large rooms (or the look of being large)
  • Well maintained; buyers don’t want to have to put a lot of work into their home purchase
  • Fresh and current look and feel

Six Designer Secrets for Home Staging

There are six steps to staging your home, according to Karen Prince, an award-winning New York staging professional and author of Secrets of Home Staging (2021). They include:

Repair

Repair any visible and known defects both inside and outside the home.

  • Pro tip: Get a pre-inspection by a qualified home inspector before listing the home. This proves to buyers that the home is in good repair, and outlines selling points like upgrades.

Update

If you have been in your home a while, it probably needs upgrades. Spend a little on cosmetic updates like color, flooring or hardware changes, or remodel for more drastic effect. Key rooms to update are the kitchen and bathrooms.

  • Pro tip: Take down drapes & valances; remove wallpaper; remove wall-to-wall carpet; paint in light neutrals; update lighting; update tiles; change cabinet hardware.

Depersonalize

You must begin thinking of your home as a product to sell, and make it appealing to a broad audience. This mean removing personal items from both the interior and exterior of your home. Pack them for your move and store them off premises if possible.

  • Pro tip: Emotionally disconnect yourself from the home to enable buyers to visualize their own lives in the house.

Remove and store:

  • Personal photos
  • Items with your name on them like college degrees, trophies, awards, etc.
  • Collections from travels, crafts, hobbies, sports, etc.
  • Religious & political items
  • Decorations – front door and exterior; inspirational sayings; statues; decorative items, etc.

Declutter

Your home stager is looking to create clean, neutral lines throughout your home that make it show better in photographs and in person. This means removing all clutter and extra items from rooms, surfaces, shelves, windows, closets, garages and storage areas that could distract a buyer. Box these items up and store them for your move. And don’t forget the lawn items! The decluttering process will also make it easier to live in the home while it’s up for sale.

  • Pro tip: When decluttering, it’s a great time to get rid of items you no longer need or want to take to your new home. Make several piles designated as keep/donate/dispose. For items you want to keep, box them up. For those to donate or dispose of, contact 123JUNK. We’ll be glad to deliver your donations to area donation center, recycle things like paper and electronics, and dispose of unusable items or trash for you.

Deep Clean

A home that looks and smells clean will offer maximum appeal to a potential buyer. You may not notice the dirt in areas you’ve overlooked, but the buyers will! Hire a professional cleaning company, power wash the exterior and deck, and remove or mask odors.

  • Pro tip: Don’t forget to clean the doors, light switches and fixtures, ceiling fans and vents.

Add Style

A professional home stager may relocate your furniture and belongings to create wow-worthy vignettes and a room’s focal point. Many stagers have storerooms of items they can use to stage an unoccupied home. Stick to a neutral palette, but items of color and whimsy are allowed in order to add contrast; an all-beige room is boring. You’ll also want to make each room look larger, and increase the flow by using fewer items. Another reason to declutter!

  • Pro tip: Establish just one purpose for each room, and try to refer to the room’s original intention. For example, if you’re using a child’s room as a home office, revert it back to a child’s room.

To Stage Your Home Beautifully, Get Rid of Unused Goods and Furniture with 123JUNK

For convenient pick-up in MD, NOVA or DC of all those items to donate and trash when you’re ready to stage your home, call 123JUNK. We’ll divide out the perfectly-good items and donate them to our charity partners. We’ll recycle electronics and materials like paper to the local recycling center. And we’ll take only what’s left to the area landfill. It’s our 1-2-3 commitment to Donate-Recycle-Dispose and to protecting our environment.

We work with designers, home stagers, Realtors and homeowners to help remove items from the home. After all, statistics prove that a beautifully-staged home sells faster and for more money.

Contact 123JUNK today to speak with a live representative. We’ll find out more about your junk hauling needs, give you a one-price all-inclusive quote, and schedule your pick-up date.

headshot of woman in uniform smiling with text on the right

Meet Becca Culver, Customer Success Representative

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

“Happiness is a direction, not a place.”  –Sydney J. Harris

Here at 123JUNK, we’d like to introduce you to another fantastic team member: Becca Culver.

What is your role at 123JUNK?

As a Customer Success Representative, my role is to help customers who are looking to get a pickup scheduled. I help them understand how our company operates, how the pickup process will go, and I make sure their pickup goes smoothly.

How long have you worked there?

I started in November of 2021.

What did you do before working at 123JUNK?

I worked in a few different companies/fields. I’ve worked in Property Management, the car industry and the concierge industry as an account manager.

How did you hear about 123JUNK?

When I worked at my previous job, Dave Echeverria was the recruiter and recruited me to work there. (Dave is now the Director of Talent Acquisition at 123JUNK.) When I left that job, I reached out to Dave and was granted an interview.

What do you like best about 123JUNK?

The people. I’m fortunate enough to work with some really great people. Everyone loves their job and what they do. It is warm and welcoming, which makes coming to work pleasant. I also like talking to different people every day and helping them get their junk removal needs taken care of. I’m a big people person.

What three words best describe you?

Honest. Hard working. Enthusiastic.

What is your background?

I was born and raised in Rockville, MD and since I still have family in the area, I hang out with them often. I have a BS degree in marketing from York College in Pennsylvania.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I’m a big movie buff and like watching movies. I have two Siberian huskies and spend lots of time playing with and walking them. And I’m newly an aunt twice over and enjoy hanging out with my niece and nephew.

What’s a fun fact about you?

I am ambidextrous!

Have you picked up any important lessons while working at 123JUNK?

I spend a difficult few days on the truck with the guys and that was eye opening. It definitely gave me respect for the truck staff. We had one day with a lot of really heavy items to pick up and it took a lot of trips. It was physically tiring. You learn what the truck staff has to deal with every day. It’s not always just picking up sofas and pillows. You have to haul some pretty heavy things under not always the best conditions. I was fortunate enough to work with all the staff, who did their job with smiles on their faces and no complaints.

How did this experience affect the job you do now?

I learned to respect what the truck crew does—their schedule and what they have to take in. I am cognizant not to overload them with jobs or send them on back to back jobs with heavy items. I don’t want them working 12 hours a day.

Do you have any advice for someone new to 123JUNK?

Learn as much as you can. And it’s important to ask questions. Be open to feedback and be willing to take on new tasks. That way you can grow. I like to take on new challenges to see if it is something I can do, especially if I haven’t done it before. It’s an opportunity to learn.

At 123JUNK, we’re always looking to hire great people!

If you’d like to work at 123JUNK, check out the “We’re Hiring” section on our website. There you’ll find job openings and descriptions for positions in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia.

To schedule a junk hauling appointment in Northern VA, DC or MD, contact our team.