Junk Removal Recycling & Responsible Disposal in Western Washington
Busby Junk Removal provides full-service junk removal with an emphasis on recycling, repurposing and responsible disposal throughout Greater Seattle and Western Washington. Since 2005, we have worked to keep recyclable and reusable materials out of the landfill by separating loads and using specialized recycling facilities whenever practical.
What happens to your junk after it leaves your property matters. A single load can contain metal, appliances, furniture, mattresses, cardboard, lumber, concrete, dirt, yard debris, electronics, batteries, fluorescent lights, paint and other materials that require very different recycling methods.
Instead of treating everything as ordinary garbage, Busby Junk Removal uses a network of recycling and material-recovery facilities throughout the Puget Sound region. The destination depends on the material being removed, the pickup location, condition of the load and current facility acceptance requirements.
How We Recycle the Materials We Remove
There is no single recycling center that properly handles every type of junk. Scrap metal, mattresses, concrete, paint, refrigerant appliances and yard waste all require different processing. Busby routes qualifying materials to facilities that specialize in those particular waste and recycling streams.
Scrap Metal
Steel, aluminum, copper, brass and other recyclable metals can often be separated from general waste and returned to the manufacturing stream rather than being disposed of as garbage.
For Eastside and north-end jobs, Busby commonly uses Radius Recycling in Woodinville. For Seattle-area metal loads, we also use The Recycling Depot in Seattle for qualifying ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal.
Common items include metal shelving, bed frames, grills, exercise equipment, filing cabinets, metal furniture, pipes, machinery and other scrap metal.
Radius Recycling – Woodinville →
The Recycling Depot – Seattle →
Non-Freon Appliances
Many household appliances contain large amounts of recyclable steel and other metals. Appliances that do not contain refrigerant can often be processed through conventional metal-recycling channels.
This may include washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, ranges, metal water heaters and similar non-refrigerant appliances.
Depending on the pickup location, Busby routes qualifying appliance loads to facilities such as Radius Recycling in Woodinville or another appropriate metal-recycling facility.
Refrigerators, Freezers & Air Conditioners
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other cooling equipment containing refrigerant require specialized handling and should not be processed as ordinary scrap metal while refrigerant remains in the system.
Busby uses Total Reclaim for appropriate refrigerant-containing appliances and equipment so refrigerants and other regulated components can be recovered before recyclable materials are processed.
These items may have an additional recycling surcharge because of the specialized processing involved.
Furniture & Mattresses
Furniture and mattresses can contain recyclable wood, metal, foam, fabric and other recoverable materials. When appropriate, Busby routes qualifying furniture and mattress loads through MCS Recycle and other available recovery channels.
Mattresses require specialized processing and may have an additional recycling surcharge. Furniture recycling depends on the item's construction, condition and the receiving facility's requirements.
Furniture that still has useful life may also be considered for repurposing when practical.
Construction & Demolition Debris
Construction, remodeling and property-cleanup projects can generate large quantities of material that can often be recovered separately from ordinary household garbage.
Busby uses MCS Recycle for qualifying construction and demolition loads. Depending on the facility and material, recyclable loads may include wood, drywall, metal, cardboard, concrete, masonry, aggregate and other approved construction debris.
MCS operates multiple facilities convenient to Busby's service area, including locations in Seattle, Renton, Redmond and the Maltby/Woodinville area.
Cardboard & Paper
Clean cardboard is highly recyclable and does not need to take up space in the general waste stream. Moving boxes, shipping cartons, packaging and commercial cardboard can often be separated from mixed junk.
Busby uses MCS Recycle for qualifying cardboard and paper loads generated by residential cleanouts, office projects, commercial jobs and construction sites.
Wood, Lumber & Pallets
Construction lumber, plywood, pallets and other qualifying wood materials can often be separated from mixed waste and processed through a construction-material recycling facility.
Busby uses MCS Recycle for qualifying wood and pallet loads. Acceptance depends on the type of wood and whether it is clean, painted, treated, contaminated or mixed with other materials.
Concrete Recycling
Concrete is extremely heavy, but clean concrete can also be highly recyclable. Recovered concrete can be crushed and processed into recycled aggregate for road base, fill and other construction applications.
For qualifying Eastside loads, Busby uses Heidelberg Materials recycling facilities in Redmond and Woodinville for concrete and asphalt demolition material.
For Seattle-area projects, qualifying concrete may also be routed through Dirt Exchange.
Heidelberg Materials →
Dirt Exchange – Seattle →
Concrete removal →
Brick, Rock & Masonry
Clean brick, rock, masonry and similar heavy debris can often be kept separate from ordinary household waste and routed through construction or aggregate recycling channels.
For qualifying Seattle loads, Busby can use Dirt Exchange for approved brick, concrete and similar clean heavy materials. Other facilities may be used depending on the pickup location and material.
Clean Dirt & Soil
Clean dirt and soil are handled separately from ordinary household junk. Depending on the pickup location and type of material, qualifying soil can be routed through facilities such as Pacific Topsoils, Cedar Grove or Dirt Exchange in Seattle.
Clean dirt must meet the receiving facility's requirements and be free of garbage, hazardous contamination and other prohibited materials.
Because dirt is extremely dense, it uses separate heavy-material pricing rather than standard truck-volume pricing.
Yard Waste & Organic Material
Branches, brush, leaves, grass, plants and other acceptable organic materials can often be composted or processed instead of being disposed of as ordinary garbage.
Depending on the job location and material, Busby uses facilities including Pacific Topsoils, Cedar Grove and Dirt Exchange for qualifying yard-waste and organic-material loads.
Pacific Topsoils →
Cedar Grove →
Dirt Exchange →
Yard waste removal →
Fluorescent Lights & Batteries
Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps and certain batteries require specialized recycling and should be kept separate from ordinary household or construction waste.
Busby uses EcoLights for qualifying fluorescent lamps, lighting products and battery recycling.
Latex & Architectural Paint
Leftover architectural paint can often be recycled instead of being discarded. Suitable paint can be collected and processed into recycled-content paint products.
Busby uses GreenSheen Paint for appropriate paint recycling. Acceptance depends on the type, condition and quantity of paint being removed.
Paint may have a separate recycling surcharge because of the specialized handling required.
Electronics & E-Waste
Televisions, computers, monitors and other electronic equipment contain metals, plastics, circuit boards and other materials that should be handled separately from ordinary garbage.
Busby Junk Removal participates in Washington State's E-Cycle Washington program and routes eligible covered electronics through appropriate electronic recycling channels.
Repurposing Usable Items
Not everything we remove is truly waste. Furniture, household goods, building materials and other items may still have useful life remaining.
When practical, Busby looks for opportunities to repurpose usable items rather than automatically treating them as garbage.
Whether an item can be repurposed depends on its condition, cleanliness, safety, current demand and available outlets. We cannot guarantee that every usable-looking item will be repurposed.
Busby's Local Recycling Network
The facility we use for a particular load depends on the pickup location, material type, quantity, condition and current facility acceptance requirements. Some of the recycling and recovery facilities Busby Junk Removal uses include:
Scrap metal and qualifying non-refrigerant appliances.
Visit Radius Recycling →
Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and qualifying recyclable metal materials for Seattle-area loads.
Visit The Recycling Depot →
Construction and demolition debris, cardboard, wood, pallets, aggregate, mattresses, qualifying furniture and other recyclable materials.
Visit MCS Recycle →
Qualifying concrete and asphalt recycling, including the production of recycled aggregate.
Visit Heidelberg Materials →
Qualifying clean dirt, concrete, brick, hardened asphalt, yard debris, brush and related materials.
Visit Dirt Exchange →
Qualifying yard debris, organic material and clean soil depending on location and facility requirements.
Visit Pacific Topsoils →
Qualifying yard waste, organic material and soil-related material at applicable locations.
Visit Cedar Grove →
Fluorescent lamps, lighting and qualifying batteries requiring specialty recycling.
Visit EcoLights →
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other equipment requiring refrigerant recovery and specialized appliance recycling.
Visit Total Reclaim →
Qualifying leftover architectural paint for recycling and recovery.
Visit GreenSheen Paint →
Facility policies, pricing and accepted materials can change. Not every load will qualify for recycling at every facility. Materials may need to meet requirements for cleanliness, size, contamination, preparation and material type before a recycling facility can accept them.
Busby determines the appropriate recycling or disposal destination based on the actual materials collected, the location of the job and the recycling options available at the time.
What Happens to Material That Cannot Be Recycled?
Not everything can be recycled or repurposed. Mixed garbage, contaminated debris, severely damaged items and certain non-recyclable materials may need to be transported to an appropriate transfer station or disposal facility.
Our goal is to identify recyclable materials, keep them separated when practical and use appropriate recycling or recovery facilities before the remaining waste is responsibly disposed of.
Full-Service Junk Removal — We Handle the Sorting & Hauling
You do not need to rent a dumpster, load a truck or drive different materials to several recycling facilities yourself. Busby Junk Removal provides full-service junk removal from homes, apartments, condos, businesses, construction sites and other properties throughout Greater Seattle.
Our crew removes items from wherever they are located, handles the lifting and loading, transports the material and routes qualifying items to appropriate recycling, repurposing or responsible disposal channels.
How It Works
1. Call, text or book online. Tell us what you need removed, or text photos to (425) 279-5937 for a fast estimate.
2. Choose your appointment. Same-day and next-day service may be available depending on the schedule.
3. Receive your final on-site estimate. Our crew reviews the items and confirms your price before beginning the work.
4. We do the lifting and loading. Once you approve the estimate, our crew removes the material from wherever it is located.
5. Materials are routed appropriately. Recyclable, reusable and residual materials are handled according to material type and available processing options.
Recycling-Focused Junk Removal Across Greater Seattle
Busby Junk Removal serves communities throughout King County, Snohomish County and northern Pierce County, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, Woodinville, Renton, Kent, Auburn, Everett, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Tacoma and surrounding Western Washington communities.
Having access to recycling facilities in Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville and other parts of the Puget Sound region allows us to choose practical recycling options based on where each job originates and what materials are being removed.
View our complete junk removal service area →
Junk Removal & Recycling FAQ
Where does Busby recycle scrap metal?
For qualifying Eastside and north-end metal loads, Busby commonly uses Radius Recycling in Woodinville. For Seattle-area loads, Busby also uses The Recycling Depot in Seattle. The destination depends on the material, pickup location and current facility requirements.
What happens to washers, dryers and other non-Freon appliances?
Non-refrigerant appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens and ranges contain substantial amounts of recyclable metal. Appropriate loads can be routed through metal recyclers such as Radius Recycling or other approved facilities.
What happens to refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners?
Appliances containing refrigerant require specialized processing. Busby uses Total Reclaim for appropriate refrigerant-containing appliances and equipment so refrigerants and other regulated components can be properly recovered before recyclable materials are processed.
Does Busby recycle mattresses?
Yes, when appropriate recycling channels are available. Busby uses MCS Recycle for qualifying mattress loads. Mattresses require additional processing and may have a separate recycling surcharge.
What happens to old furniture?
Furniture may be routed for recycling through facilities such as MCS Recycle when appropriate for the material and facility requirements. Usable furniture may also be repurposed when practical. Furniture that cannot be recycled or repurposed is disposed of responsibly.
Where does Busby recycle construction debris?
Busby uses MCS Recycle for qualifying construction and demolition materials. Depending on the load and facility, recyclable materials can include wood, cardboard, metal, drywall, concrete, masonry, aggregate and other approved construction debris.
Where does Busby recycle concrete?
For Eastside projects, Busby uses Heidelberg Materials recycling facilities in Redmond and Woodinville for qualifying concrete and asphalt. In Seattle, qualifying concrete and brick may also be routed to Dirt Exchange. Other recycling facilities may be used depending on the job location and material.
Where does clean dirt go?
Qualifying clean dirt may be routed to Pacific Topsoils, applicable Cedar Grove locations or Dirt Exchange in Seattle. Dirt must meet the receiving facility's requirements and is priced separately from ordinary household junk because of its weight.
What happens to yard waste?
Qualifying yard waste and organic material may be routed to facilities such as Pacific Topsoils, Cedar Grove or Dirt Exchange depending on the pickup location, type of material and current facility requirements.
Where are fluorescent lights and batteries recycled?
Busby uses EcoLights for appropriate fluorescent lamps, lighting and qualifying battery recycling. These materials require specialized handling and are kept separate from ordinary waste.
What happens to leftover paint?
Appropriate leftover architectural paint may be routed to GreenSheen Paint for recycling. Paint acceptance and recycling surcharges depend on the type, quantity and condition of the material.
Do you recycle electronics and televisions?
Yes. Busby provides electronics and television removal and participates in Washington State's E-Cycle Washington program for eligible covered electronic products.
Do I need to sort recyclable materials before Busby arrives?
Usually not. Busby provides full-service junk removal and handles the lifting, loading and hauling. If you have a large quantity of one specific material such as scrap metal, cardboard, clean wood, yard debris, concrete, dirt or paint, letting us know when scheduling helps us plan the appropriate recycling method.
Does Busby recycle everything it removes?
No. Not every item can be recycled or repurposed. Busby averages approximately a 73% landfill-diversion rate for general waste through recycling and repurposing whenever practical. Materials that cannot be recovered are transported to an appropriate disposal facility.
Need Junk Removed Responsibly?
Busby Junk Removal handles the lifting, loading, hauling and responsible routing of unwanted items throughout Greater Seattle and Western Washington.
Call/Text: (425) 279-5937
Toll-Free: 1-877-404-5865
Book Online & Save $10 →
