Let’s face it: we all accumulate stuff. Whether you’re an individual or a business, it’s important to manage your clutter and waste by disposing of it properly. Most of the time, this can be managed with the city’s curbside pickup program, but sometimes you’re better off getting help from a professional junk removal service.
Whether you’ve accumulated too much or your business is undergoing a remodel, a professional junk removal service can efficiently and conveniently help you get rid of bulky items and debris. To help you out and answer any questions you may have, we’ve put together this complete guide to waste management and junk removal.
What is waste management and junk removal?
Simply put, waste management refers to the process of collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste. Depending on whether you’re an individual or a business, waste management can take several forms.
Perhaps the most common type of waste management is a residential or commercial pickup. Here in Cleveland, the city provides this service for a nominal fee to both residential and commercial properties. The city provides waste and recycling bins, which are then picked up on a regular basis. Most of the time, this service is enough for both individual households and commercial businesses to manage their flow of waste.
Sometimes, however, an individual or business has more waste or junk than can be accommodated by regular pickups. In this case, there are several options:
1. Rent a dumpster through the City of Cleveland or a professional dumpster rental company.
2. Hire a professional waste & junk removal service such as Rapid Cleanout to haul your waste away from your property.
3. Haul your own waste and junk to the city dump.
Myth: hauling your own waste saves money
While in some cases it can save you money to haul your own waste to the city dump, most of the time, it does not. The fact is that physically removing excess waste and junk such as boxes, furniture, and appliances takes a lot of time and effort.
Plus, dump fees are often standardized per haul, so unless you have a large truck or trailer, chances are you’ll have to take multiple loads which can cost you in time, gas, and dump fees. Not to mention, hauling a heavy load could potentially damage your vehicle.
Our professional junk removal services are fairly priced and efficient. If you hire us, you can be sure that we will do our best to properly dispose of your waste, whether that means donating, recycling, or hauling it to the dump!
The importance of proper waste management and junk removal
It may seem obvious, but you can’t just go dumping waste or junk on the side of the road. In fact, there are strict rules against this practice, and if you’re caught dumping in Cleveland you could face serious fines and even a prison sentence.
But disposing of waste properly is also important for the environment. Improperly disposed of waste, garbage, or junk such as furniture or appliances can harm the environment and pose a risk to the health of humans and wildlife.
Effective waste management, whether that’s a residential or commercial pickup, professional junk removal, or a trip to the dump, is essential for maintaining a clean environment and protecting public health.
Waste management and junk removal in Cleveland, OH
Did you know that in the United States, we generate an average of nearly 5 pounds of waste per person per day? Can you imagine what a city like Cleveland would look like without waste management services to help us take care of our trash?
People would be left to their own devices for getting rid of unwanted items, waste, debris, and more. In the past, this meant streets lined with piles of filth and junk. Other methods for disposing of junk included burning and burying, practices which are no longer allowed.
A brief history of waste management and junk removal in Cleveland, OH
There’s a reason you don’t see a lot of waste and debris around cities anymore. Over the last century or so, waste management has become a matter of public concern due to environmental and health problems associated with the growing amount of waste generated by our society.
In order to safely and effectively manage that kind of volume, most cities and towns across the country have a public waste management system that hauls away waste and recycling.
Current waste management practices in Cleveland, OH
Today, the City of Cleveland offers both residential and commercial waste pickups. Since 2022, they also offer an opt-in recycling program, which you can find out more about here. But what happens to your waste once it leaves your home or business?
Whether you’re curious about the various waste management practices that happen in Cleveland, or you’re about to embark on a renovation or cleanout project, it’s helpful to know how the city deals with waste and junk.
Landfills
Most cities, including Cleveland, have designated areas where waste can be disposed of. Landfills are built following extremely strict regulations so as to minimize environmental damage. Unfortunately, they are not perfect and sometimes can leak a hazardous soup of chemicals known as leachate.
Landfills that service Cleveland and the county of Cuyahoga are built following all of the EPA’s guidelines and regulations. Once a landfill reaches capacity, it’s covered and monitored for another 30 years, during which time it gives off gas that can be used by local businesses.
Recycling programs
According to the latest EPA data, approximately 24% of all municipal solid waste gets recycled. For the most part, this means that recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or glass are processed in recycling facilities so that they can be reused to create new products.
While Cleveland hasn’t always been at the forefront of recycling practices, the city now has curbside recycling pickup, as well as recycling centers where residents can drop off recyclable materials themselves.
Hazardous waste disposal
Chemicals, batteries, and even old paint – are all examples of hazardous waste that can’t be disposed of through normal trash or recycling programs. If you have hazardous waste to get rid of, you’ll need to take it to a collection center, contact the city service department for a pickup, or attend a special waste collection event.
Composting
It’s best to leave food scraps and yard waste out of your trash, because once these organic materials start breaking down they can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Instead, these biodegradable materials can be composted to generate a nutrient-rich soil amendment!
While Cleveland does not currently offer a municipal compost pickup, you can start composting at home or participate in a community composting program.
Challenges faced by waste management in Cleveland, OH
As the city of Cleveland continues to grow, the amount of waste generated by its population grows, too. This creates numerous challenges for the city’s waste management programs.
Limited landfill space
The majority of waste generated in Cleveland ends up in landfills, but there are limitations to the amount of space in a landfill. Once a landfill reaches capacity, it has to be closed, covered up, and monitored closely for 30 years.
Plus, building a new landfill is not that simple. Not only do they take up a large amount of space and resources, but they need to be built according to strict regulations in order to minimize the amount of environmental harm they can cause.
Due to a combination of the limited landfill space in and around Cleveland, as well as growing environmental concerns, other methods of waste management are becoming more popular. This includes recycling programs as well as composting programs.
Contamination of recyclable materials
While it may seem simple, recycling is actually a very complicated process. Unfortunately, recycling faces numerous challenges, including facility limitations as well as contamination. Contamination of recyclable materials includes instances of non-recyclable items and items contaminated by large amounts of food, liquid, or oil.
When you recycle at home or in your business, make sure to follow the city’s guidelines for what you can and cannot recycle. Moreover, rinse out food containers such as cans and jars to remove the bulk of food residue. Make sure that bottles and jugs are completely empty of liquids. Contrary to popular belief, pizza boxes can be recycled unless they have a lot of oily residue.
Unfortunately, when a batch of recyclables contains too many contaminants, it can end up in the landfill, taking up valuable space and preventing those resources from being reused.
Lack of resources for composting
Composting in Cleveland is growing, but it’s still very limited in its capacity. Without widespread infrastructure for city-wide composting, it’s difficult for homes and businesses to properly compost their food waste and yard debris.
This means that a lot of compostable materials end up in the landfill, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Fortunately, you can start composting at home. Learn more about composting resources in Cleveland here.
Junk removal in Cleveland, OH
If you’re getting ready (or maybe you’re already well underway) to start a big renovation project, spring cleanout, or simply have some large items to get rid of, you may need the help of a professional junk removal service such as Rapid Cleanout, the top black-owned junk removal service in Cleveland, OH.
Types of junk removal services in Cleveland, OH
Whether you’re an individual, a rental agency, or a commercial business, you might need the help of professional junk removal services to help you haul away junk and debris. There are several types of junk removal services depending on your needs:
Residential junk removal
For individual households, residential junk removal is the best option for helping you remove unwanted junk, trash, or debris. Whether you’re doing a big house cleanout or starting a renovation project, professional junk removers can help you haul away heavy loads, taking away all of the stress of junk removal including potential damage to your vehicle, gas costs, and physical demands.
Here at Rapid Cleanout we offer a range of volume pricing to best accommodate your junk removal needs.
Commercial junk removal
For businesses, commercial junk removal services will help you haul away large amounts of waste, recyclables, and even debris. Since professional junk removal services such as ours have the staff and tools needed to haul away large loads, you can rest easy knowing that you are saving yourself the trouble and hassle of dealing with junk removal yourself.
Whether your business is undergoing a remodel, moving locations, or just needing a cleanout, we can help with our range of commercial junk removal services.
Construction debris removal
Unlike furniture, appliances, and other household or business items, construction debris includes rock, dirt, wood, and other construction materials that need to be disposed of. While this kind of waste can’t often be recycled, it still needs to be properly disposed of.
Our team at Rapid Cleanout has the skills and equipment needed to haul away your construction debris in a safe and efficient manner. Learn more about our construction debris removal services here!
Benefits of junk removal services in Cleveland, OH
When you have more waste than you can handle on your own, professional junk removal services are an invaluable resource. Here are just some of the benefits of using a junk removal service such as Rapid Cleanout in Cleveland:
Environmental benefits
Here at Rapid Cleanout we value the environment and will do everything in our power to reduce the environmental impact of your junk when we remove it from your property. Whenever possible, we will donate items that are still in good condition.
Moreover, since many types of materials are recyclable in Cleveland, we will do our best to recycle these whenever possible, instead of just taking the entire load to the dump. This way we can reduce how much waste ends up in the landfill, and try to keep materials in circulation!
Health and safety benefits
Hiring a professional and certified junk removal service ensures that your junk is being properly disposed of in a manner that is safe for the environment and for other people. Additionally, our staff are physically strong and trained to haul, load, and unload heavy items in a way that is safe, not only protecting them but also protecting you from possible injury!
Convenience for customers
Junk removal is a tough business. While there’s a chance you could save some money by hauling away junk on your own, it’s incredibly inconvenient and can take up a lot of time. Our staff at Rapid Cleanout is extremely efficient, so we will haul away your junk, debris, or old appliances in no time and save you all of the hassle of figuring out what to do with it all!
Check out what some of our customers have had to say about their experience with Rapid Cleanout here!
Have any more questions about our junk removal services? Give us a call today!
