There are times when your yards and other outdoor property need a major clean up. One of the results of this cleaning can be large amounts of debris and junk that needs to be disposed of properly. And that's where recycling comes in.
Spring is a great time to tackle those outdoor cleaning projects. But perhaps you are ready to take on a major overhaul of your property. This could mean a detailed "clean sweep" of both your back and front yards, any side yards and other property, your garden or storage sheds, and so on.
Along with a major clean up you might be ready to do a landscape makeover, as well.
This, of course, can also generate massive amounts of debris and organic waste materials that will need to be disposed of. Clippings, trimmings, dirt, gravel, old sod, whole plants and gardening materials - all of these and more can pile up.
For too many people, the default response to dealing with all the waste and debris is to toss it out. But, once your green residential bin is full, what do you do with the rest of it? You could dispose of it in weekly batches - filling your green organic waste bin each time till all the "junk" is gotten rid of.
But that could take months! And not everything you need to have hauled off may fit in that bin.
And don't even think of borrowing a truck, filling it with all your junk and debris, then dumping it an empty field or lot somewhere! Not only is it quite likely illegal, it's unsafe and inconsiderate. In addition to possibly trespassing, this can also be seen as littering or illegal dumping. Definitely not something you want to get in trouble for.
Fortunately, there are legitimate and convenient alternatives.
Before you decide to simply have everything hauled off and disposed of, let's first look at the advantages of recycling what you have.
In all likelihood, almost everything you have piled up as yard waste, junk and debris can either be reused in some way, or recycled.
For example, why keep paying for compost and fertilizer products for your lawn and landscaping when your own property likely provides plenty of potential compost already? If you're not using a compost pile or bin yet, it is a great addition to a healthy outdoor space.
According the EPA,
"Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up about 30 percent of what we throw away, and should be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests.
Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.
Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint."
So much of what we cut, trim and prune can be easily reused and "repurposed" as compost. In addition, the woodier and more fibrous organic materials that your plants and landscaping produces can be used a mulch in and around trees, shrubs and flower beds.
Mulching is a vital and effective method for protecting your plants, beautifying your yard and it can add nutrients to your soil. Although bags of organic mulch or mulch alternatives can be purchased at the store, you can also make your own mulch.
An article at Angie's List offers this advice:
"Piles of leaves can be swiftly mulched with a lawnmower. (One of those grass-catching bags would be very useful at this point if you have one! Otherwise, run the mower over the leaf pile a few times and rake it all together.)
If you’re using branches, bark or other wood trimmings, the best way to generate mulch from the source is a small wood chipper. Many hardware stores will rent them out. Don’t forget to wear safety glasses!
A mixture of all these sources can be the most effective mulch – wood trimmings, leaves and grass all bring different nutrients to the system."
Old, broken lawn equipment and tools can be either recycled (wood, metals, plastics) or put to use and given new life with a different purpose.
Buckets, pails, old wheelbarrows and even crates can be repurposed as storage bins, tool bins, and planters, of course. Old rakes, hoes and shovels can be utilized as stands for birdhouses or feeders. Shovel blades can be removed from broken handles and turned into bird feeders, as well.
A bit of creativity and some elbow grease can go a long way towards giving your old tools and other equipment a new and decorative lease on life.
For the bulk of your organic waste, however, there may be far more than you can effectively use for compost, mulch and other purposes. In addition, you may have inorganic junk items that you either cannot find an effective new use for, or simply don't have the time or inclination to do so.
Fair enough. But what can you do with all that stuff that still needs to be disposed of properly?
As we noted previously, old or broken lawn equipment and tools can be recycled. You can dismantle these yourself and possibly sell the metal parts to a scrap metal dealer, or simply have the entire item hauled away by a professional junk hauling firm that specializes in recycling items.
The best option is to find a company that can take all of your junk - organic waste and inorganic junk items - and dispose of them using the most eco-friendly methods available. By outsourcing this job to a reliable and competent hauler you can save valuable time and money, while easily having all your waste, debris, garbage and other junk quickly and professionally picked up and hauled away.
A company like Junk King is a great fit for this task since we make recycling a priority with all of our removal and hauling efforts. We pride ourselves on our reputation and our record as being "green" and eco-friendly.
When we founded Junk King in 2005 it was the first recycling-based junk removal operation. One of our goals is to not only be efficient in our operations, but to keep our landfills as free as possible of unnecessary items. Which is what drives our efforts to recycle, repurpose and reuse as much of the material we collect as possible.
Once you decide to outsource the trash and junk hauling part of your outdoor cleaning project, you need to decide which firm is the right one for the job.
Well, that's easy since Junk King really is the firm of choice!
Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly residential waste disposal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of the debris after your project is complete. Our experienced debris removal team will break down and haul off any types of yard waste or outdoor junk items you have.
Our professional and insured yard waste removal team will show up at your home and we call 15 minutes before we arrive on site. Once there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You simply point and we'll haul the debris away with no hidden fees.
Ready to get rid of your yard waste? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3. Make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).