The short answer: if it's non-hazardous, we'll take it. The long answer — what's actually accepted, what gets recycled or donated, and the handful of things we legally and safely can't haul — is worth knowing before you book. Here's the full picture for Greater Sudbury.
What we take
Furniture and household goods
- Sofas, sectionals, loveseats, recliners
- Mattresses, box springs, bed frames
- Dressers, wardrobes, dining sets, desks
- Office furniture, filing cabinets, cubicles
Appliances
- Fridges, freezers, stoves, dishwashers
- Washers, dryers, microwaves
- Air conditioners and dehumidifiers (refrigerants are handled and recovered properly)
Electronics
- TVs, monitors, computers, printers
- Audio equipment, gaming consoles
- Small electronics of all kinds
Outdoor and yard items
- Yard waste, branches, brush, leaves
- Old decks, fencing, sheds
- Patio furniture, grills, play structures
- Hot tubs and above-ground pools
Construction and renovation debris
- Drywall, lumber, flooring, tile
- Cabinets, countertops, fixtures
- Demolition waste from remodels
Cleanouts and miscellaneous
- Basement, garage, attic and estate cleanouts
- Hoarding situations (handled discreetly and respectfully)
- Storage unit contents, eviction leftovers
- Scrap metal of all kinds
- General clutter, boxes, and "I don't know what this is anymore" piles
What happens to it
Taking it away is only half the job. On every pickup, our crew sorts as we load: usable items go to Sudbury charities and thrift outlets, metals and electronics go to recyclers, and only what genuinely can't be reused or recycled goes to the landfill. Roughly speaking, a good junk removal company keeps more than half of what it hauls out of the dump — ask any company you hire what their diversion rate is and how they handle donation runs.
What we CAN'T take
For safety, legal and environmental reasons, junk removal companies can't haul hazardous materials. This isn't a company policy — it's the law, and it applies whether you hire us or haul it yourself:
- Chemicals, solvents, pesticides and fertilizers
- Gasoline, diesel, oil and other fuels
- Asbestos-containing materials (insulation, old tiles — this one needs a licensed abatement contractor)
- Wet paint and paint thinners
- Batteries (car batteries especially)
- Propane tanks and compressed gas cylinders
- Infectious or medical waste
- Anything radioactive (yes, some old smoke detectors and equipment qualify)
Where these go instead: the City of Greater Sudbury operates a Household Hazardous Waste Depot. Check the city's website for current location, hours and accepted materials before you go — the details change, and showing up with the wrong items wastes a trip. For asbestos specifically, hire a licensed abatement contractor; it should never go in a junk truck or a regular dump run.
Gray areas worth asking about
A few items sit in the middle and depend on the company and the situation: tires (accepted by many, sometimes with a small per-tire fee), pianos (accepted, but quote separately — they're specialist jobs), dirt, concrete and sod (often declined by standard junk trucks due to weight limits — ask before booking). When in doubt, mention it when you request your quote so there are no surprises on pickup day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sort everything before you arrive?
No. Sort if you want to (it can speed things up), but our crew sorts as we load — keep vs. go piles are helpful, item-by-item sorting is not required.
Will you take items that are broken or stained?
Yes. Nothing needs to be in working order or good condition. If it's donatable, we donate it; if not, we recycle or dispose of it responsibly.
What about items in a basement or attic?
We take them from wherever they are — stairs included. That's the whole point of hiring a crew instead of hauling it yourself.
Can you take just one item?
Absolutely. Single-item pickups are a big part of what we do — one couch, one fridge, one mattress. There's a minimum charge, but no job is too small.
How do you handle electronics disposal?
E-waste goes to certified electronics recyclers, not the landfill. TVs and monitors contain materials that shouldn't end up in regular waste streams, so this matters.
Not sure if we'll take it? Just ask — request a free quote or call (705) 555-0199 and tell us what you've got.