Junk Removal Service Costs

Junk removal services are ideal for large-scale cleaning and decluttering projects, renovations, landscaping work, moving cleanouts, and other events that produce an excessive amount of waste. This is typically used as a one-time service for hauling away debris or items that cannot be disposed of in the daily trash or when there is simply too much to sit on the curb on trash day.

Junk removal services may be calculated by load volume or container size. Some companies offer individual item rates for large appliances and furniture. Premiums may be charged for appliances that contain freon, which requires special disposal. Below, you can compare costs based on load size and the average cost per item.

Junk removal: by load size, measured in cubic feet.

Junk removal: per item.

Other considerations and costs

• Some companies will not include landfill fees in their initial estimates. Local landfill fees vary, but typically average between $20 and $50 per ton.
• In the event that you need a permit for a dumpster or placing junk on a public street, that can cost between $40 and $75.
• Certain hazardous materials require proper disposal methods. Junk removal services will fine customers up to $500 for any prohibited materials. You can dispose of these items properly by contacting your city or local department that handles waste management.

DIY considerations

• A junk removal service’s standard “load” is approximately 4 pickup trucks worth of junk, to help you determine whether DIY disposal might be cheaper, depending on how much junk you have.
• If you choose to dispose of your own junk, you’ll only have to pay the landfill fees as long as you have transportation to the landfill in the first place.
• A cheaper option for smaller loads (3,300 lbs. or less) is a Bagster or similar one-time disposal option that you can purchase at your local home improvement store. The bags cost about $30 and will cost an average of $100 to have hauled away once you have filled them.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.