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Small junk hauling and dump runs Beta
A neighbor with a truck or trailer hauls a few loads of old furniture, boxes or yard debris to the dump, recycling or a donation drop-off.
- How often
- One-off
- Where the work happens
- Meets you in person
- Who it suits
- Best done by an adult
- Before you start
- Check local rules
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
Small hauling covers the in-between jobs: an old couch, a garage corner full of boxes, a rusted grill, a pile of brush, a mattress after a move. A neighbor with a pickup or utility trailer loads it, ties it down, and takes it where it belongs, whether that is the landfill, the recycling center or a donation drop-off.
People clearing out a garage, finishing a remodel, settling a parent's home, or just tired of looking at the thing in the side yard ask for it. Many do not own a truck and do not need a full cleanout crew.
Because it means meeting people and loading things from their homes and garages, it is work for adults. Whole-house cleanouts, bulk construction debris, hazardous materials and anything that needs special handling belong to a licensed hauling business.
Also called: junk removal, haul away old furniture, junk pickup, dump run, garage cleanout help, small junk removal.
What's usually included
- Loading items from the curb, the driveway or the garage
- Strapping the load down and covering it with a tarp
- Driving it to the dump, recycling center or donation drop-off
- Setting aside things that can be donated or recycled, if you want
- Sweeping up the spot where the pile was
What to ask before you hire
- What exactly is going, and about how much is there?
- Is anything too heavy for two people to lift safely?
- Who pays the dump or drop-off fees, and do you want the receipts?
- Should anything be donated instead of thrown away?
- Will the items be at the curb, in the garage, or still inside the house?
- Is there any paint, chemicals, tires, batteries or electronics in the pile?
Staying safe
- Use two people for anything bulky and a dolly for appliances.
- Tie down every load, because anything that blows out of a truck bed can hurt the driver behind you.
- Watch for nails, broken glass and sharp edges, and wear thick gloves and sturdy shoes.
- Leave paint, fuel, chemicals and anything you cannot identify for the owner to take to a household hazardous waste drop-off.
Local rules
Some cities, counties and states have rules for hauling other people's junk and where it can be dropped off, such as a hauling permit or separate rules for appliances and tires, so look up your local rules before you hire or offer it.
Small junk hauling and dump runs by town
Questions people ask
What can a neighbor not haul away?
Paint, chemicals, fuel, tires, batteries and appliances with refrigerant often have their own drop-off rules. Ask your local dump or recycling center, and leave those to a hauling business if you are unsure.
Who pays the dump fee?
Agree on it before the job. Some neighbors build it into their price; others pass it along with the receipt.
Will they carry things out of my house?
Some will, but it is more work and means having them inside. Moving items to the garage or curb first keeps the job simpler.
What if it is a whole house or a big remodel?
That calls for a hauling business with a large container or a box truck. A neighbor's truck suits a job of a few loads.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- You need a pickup or trailer, ratchet straps, a tarp, a hand truck or dolly, gloves, and a second person for the heavy pieces.
- Learn your local dump's hours, fees and what it turns away, along with where the donation and recycling drop-offs are.
- Quote by the load or by the trip once you have seen the pile, and include drive time and any drop-off fees in what you agree on.
- Look into what small junk runs usually go for in your area so your quote is fair to you and the customer.
- Keep the receipts from each drop-off and hand them over, which builds trust and helps customers who need records.
- Turn down anything you are not set up to haul safely or properly, and point the customer to a hauling business.
