Handling unwanted junk in Philadelphia can be a chore, but with the correct way to handle it, you could do it very efficiently and responsibly. Whether it is old furniture, electronics or miscellaneous household items, what steps are the most handy to do?
Sort Your Items
Sort your junk by category:
- Recyclable items are: paper, cardboard, metals (including cans), glass and some plastics.
- Anything electrical such as old phones, computers and televisions.
- Furniture, couches, tables, chairs.
- Dangerous waste: such as batteries, paint and chemicals.
- Misc, this involves everything else not in the previous categories.
Recycle
Recycling plays an important role in lowering the environmental impact your junk may have if sent to a landfill instead. Most communities in Philadelphia provide curbside recycling collection of typical recyclables (e.g., newspapers, corrugated cardboard, glass containers and various types of plastics.) If you have electronics, see if the store or community center where they were purchased has e-recycling. Companies like Earth911 can tell you where your nearest recycling centers are located.
Donate
Well, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are a host of charities that will accept gently used items, ranging from furniture and clothing to electronics. Goodwill, The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity ReStores often do free pick-ups of larger items. Donating helps those in need as well keep useful out of landfills.
Sell your junk
Get a little back: if any of your things still hold value, try selling them. Selling your junk on places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or local consignment shops give you a chance to turn that ancient TV set into cash. Finally, hosting a garage sale is another way to de-clutter and even earn some extra cash.
Repurpose or Upcycle
Repurpose or upcycle your junk. For instance, those wooden pallets can be turned into garden planters, while glass jars by the thousands instantly become storage containers. Pinterest, for example has hundreds of ideas to repurpose items on your own!
Dispose of Properly
Ultimately, things that cannot be reused or recycled should just go into the garbage. Practice proper waste disposal, contact your local garbage collection for large items, hazardous waste or regular trash. Some areas in Philadelphia even have community drop off points or special collection days for these items.
Hire a Dumpster Rental Service
If you have a large amount of junk or items that are difficult to move, hiring a professional junk removal service can be an efficient solution. Companies like Philadelphia Dumpster Rental Bros specialize in hauling away unwanted items. They often sort through the junk to recycle or donate items when possible.
Community Clean-Up Events
Join in community clean-up events that are usually held by local municipalities or environmental groups. These activities offer the chance to responsibly and in many cases for free, dispose of different types stuff such as electronics or hazardous waste.
Utilizing the above options helps you control old junk in Pennsylvania properly, doing your part to decrease environmental impact and possibly helping out others locally.