Cleanouts
What can't go in a junk removal load
One half-full can of paint can get an entire load refused at the gate. Here's what to pull out before anyone arrives.
The frustrating version of a hauling job goes like this: everything gets loaded, the trailer arrives at the facility, and the load is refused because of something buried in the middle of it. Then it comes back to your driveway and you have paid for a round trip that accomplished nothing.
Almost always it is one of a short list of items, and almost always the homeowner did not know it mattered.
Cannot go in a general load, anywhere
- Paint, stain, solvents, thinners and anything in a can that is still liquid
- Fuel, motor oil, antifreeze and automotive fluids
- Pesticides, herbicides and pool chemicals
- Propane tanks and any pressurised cylinder, including small camping canisters
- Batteries — car batteries especially, but also large rechargeable and lithium packs
- Ammunition, fireworks and anything explosive
- Asbestos-containing material of any kind
- Medical waste and sharps
Paint. Almost every garage in America has six to twenty cans of old paint in a corner, and almost nobody thinks of it as hazardous waste. It is. Set it aside before anyone loads anything. Fully dried-out latex paint is often acceptable in ordinary waste in many jurisdictions — but liquid paint is not, and 'mostly dry' is not dry.
Goes, but with a separate fee
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Refrigerators, freezers, AC units | Contain refrigerant that must be recovered by a certified technician before disposal |
| Tires | Handled and recycled separately; charged per tire nearly everywhere |
| Mattresses and box springs | Bulky, poorly compactable, and increasingly charged individually |
| Televisions, monitors and electronics | Electronic waste stream, separate handling and fees |
| Concrete, brick, soil, tile and shingles | Not prohibited, but so dense they hit trailer weight limits while it still looks half empty |
What to do with the excluded items
Most counties in this region run a household hazardous waste program with scheduled collection days or a permanent drop-off site, and it is generally free for residents. Paint, chemicals, fuel and batteries go there. Auto parts retailers usually take used oil and car batteries. Tire shops take tires for a small fee. It is a short list of extra errands and it is far less annoying than a refused load.
The other thing worth separating
Scrap metal. It is not a restriction — it is money. Metal routed to recycling rather than dumped reduces what you pay in disposal fees, and on a rural cleanout with old fencing, wire, equipment and appliances, the separation can offset a meaningful share of the job. Any hauler who does not mention this is choosing not to.
The same is true of anything genuinely usable. Furniture in good condition, working appliances and household goods are worth diverting to donation. It costs the same and it is the better outcome — though be aware most donation centers will not accept upholstered furniture with damage, cribs, mattresses, or anything with a missing part.
From our own jobs
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