The junk removal industry saw major growth across the U.S. during the 1990s and 2000s. Today, it has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar market, and modern solutions are needed to handle this rapid growth. As a result, waste removal companies continue to adapt their technology to keep up with the demand.
As people continue to accumulate more belongings, the demand for junk removal services is higher than ever. Demand for consumer goods has grown dramatically in recent years, with consumer spending making up 70% of the U.S. GDP. As people continue to buy more unnecessary items, especially through online retailers, landfills are filling up with non-sustainable plastics and packaging that harm the environment at an alarming rate. Although many businesses are opting to use more eco-friendly materials, the need for effective waste removal will remain as long as consumer purchasing continues to rise.
As the demand for junk removal and eco-friendly disposal methods grows, efficient solutions are more important than ever. With sustainability and zero-waste practices increasingly adopted by companies and communities across the U.S., we can expect greater participation in community junk removal and recycling initiatives.
Surprising Junk Removal Statistics
The waste industry in the U.S. is valued at $75 billion each year, with junk removal amounting to $10 billion each year.
The average person in the U.S. produces about 4.5 pounds of waste each day. Almost one-third of this waste can be recycled or composted.
The amount of households that participated in recycling programs rose from 40% in 2013 to 46% in 2015.
More than 20,000 companies operate in the waste management industry.
Employees who worked in the waste management industry earned an average hourly wage of $26.14. Those same employees had an average work week of about 41.8 hours.
In the U.S. alone, more than 350 million tons of trash are created each year. The EPA estimates that approximately 75% of all waste is recyclable. The rate of recycling in the U.S. is now just above 34%.
The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world and each person in the U.S. amounts to 1,609 pounds of trash each year. The U.S., being 5% of the world’s population, generates 40% of the world’s waste. This means that job opportunities in the U.S. for waste removal are plentiful.
Of every $10 spent to buy things, $1 is packaging that can be thrown away. Packaging from items bought makes up about 65% of household trash.
Since electronic devices like TVs, cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices are becoming more widespread and available across the world, electronic waste is an increasing problem for landfills. People in the year 2012 produced about 50 million tons of electronic waste.
Companies are selling products that are purposefully disposable. Apple designed its cell phone battery life to last up to two years so consumers would buy a new model.
The U.S. Municipal Solid Waste Management Market will likely surpass $25 billion by 2024.
In 2017, Landfills acted as the most prominent form of waste removal, and contributed to more than 60 percent of the total waste management market.
The global waste that is generated will be expected to rapidly increase from 2.01 billion tons created in 2016 to 3.4 billion tons over the next 30 years.
The average cost to throw a ton of trash in a landfill is $28. The average cost to recycle a ton of trash is $147.
China is limiting the number of plastic it will take in.
As seen in the facts stated above, the need for waste removal services is dire. There are many items that are simply not disposed of in the correct manner and are threatening our ecosystem. If people were to use recycling services made available to them more often, they can help reduce items being built up in landfills. Americans recycle about 34 percent of the total waste they create. The recycling rate 50 years ago was 6.2 percent. There is now more waste than ever being created, and we need to create a conscious effort to recycle and dispose of waste in the correct ways to ensure future generations are protected.
China's Ban on Imported Plastics
Historically, the U.S. and other countries have relied on China to help manage landfills and handle waste. However, China’s recent ban on imported plastics is now impacting waste management worldwide. The ban has left countries scrambling to find additional landfill space to accommodate the large volumes of trash produced annually. Previously, China accepted 45% of the world’s plastic, but pollution and health concerns have forced the country to limit imports. For U.S. waste management companies, this shift means demand for trash services is expected to rise significantly next year, requiring more modern and efficient solutions to meet growing waste removal needs.
Removing Unwanted Junk
Many homeowners have accumulated junk over the years from cluttered basements and garages to storage spaces and attics. We can all use some de-cluttering and junk removal services to restore our homes to clean, organized spaces. Downsizing and getting rid of stuff you no longer use or need will help you to have a stress-free environment in your home or business. Households are accumulating more garbage and it is important to get rid of waste with a reliable dumpster service. Local communities often have electronic recycling drives and recycling drives. For all other items that need a dumpster rental, be sure to find a certified and reliable rental company and thoroughly do your research. What we do with our extra accumulated junk over the years is important, and finding a company who not only cares about proper waste management but also the environment is crucial.
Sustainable Dumpster Rentals
Sourgum can help with household waste removal with quality dumpster rentals and an understanding of how to manage waste for a cleaner, greener community. When you rent a dumpster with Sourgum, you not only get reliable customer service and transparent pricing, but you also divert as much waste as possible from landfills. For every dumpster rented, we make a donation to One Tree Planted, an organization dedicated to reforestation efforts. Every rental is equivalent to one tree planted in a reviving forest around the world. You can even order a dumpster online.
Opportunities to Recycle
If you are concerned about the amount of waste you are getting rid of, try to see if anything can be recycled. Ask your nearest waste removal provider if there are local drives where you can donate lightly used items. Communities often have recycling programs that will be glad to take lightly used electronics, furniture, mattresses, clothes and more. There are many opportunities to pass on these items second-hand to avoid even going into the landfills in the first place.
For all of the other items that cannot be donated, they can be brought to your local recycling center or handled by a dumpster rental company in your area. There are many major retailers that will gladly take e-waste to recycle. These stores often include Best Buy, Staples and Verizon, and they will accept e-waste drop-offs at their stores.
A majority of the customers from junk removal and waste removal companies happen to be homeowners, which shows the major need for waste management services in local communities. Since many of the customers who need waste removal are homeowners, junk removal sales tend to run in cycles, with sales often being seasonal, and companies need to market their services often in person to potential customers.
Since there will always be junk, the need for junk removal services will always be in demand. With many companies switching to zero waste by 2030, there will be an even greater incentive to recycle and use proper waste management services in order to preserve our world’s future environment.
The junk removal industry has many benefits:
Contributes to sustainability: Since we are moving to more zero-waste communities and businesses, the junk removal industry will help to get us to a more sustainable future.
Recession proof: There will always be a need to get rid of junk. No matter what the economy is like in the future, the junk removal industry will be needed for both residential and commercial services.
Contributes to growth: The junk removal industry has grown significantly since the 90’s and will continue to with future eco-friendly policies and encouragement to leave behind a cleaner environment.
The waste removal industry will continue to grow each year, as people generate more waste throughout the U.S. and the entire world. For items that cannot be recycled or donated, consider waste removal services with a roll-off dumpster rental. As we acquire more unneeded stuff throughout the years, it accumulates in our homes and businesses. When it is time to downsize and get rid of items, we often find more items to get rid out that we no longer use than previously thought. Your local dumpster rental company will help you to easily and efficiently dispose of the items you no longer need, keeping your home clean and disposing of items in the correct way to keep the environment clean.
If you are unsure of what you can and cannot throw away, local community websites often have guidelines. You can find out from a local waste management company in your area the items that they will take or recycle, and the items that need a special collection drive.
Sustainable Junk Removal Services
As a leading waste and recycling solution, Sourgum delivers exceptional service while helping customers reduce waste. We’re committed to innovative approaches—finding new ways to reuse materials and leveraging technology to work toward a zero-waste future. As waste flow evolves, Sourgum adapts to meet the unique needs of communities and businesses nationwide.
We offer modern, technology-driven services for an ever-evolving junk issue. Homeowners and businesses can access thousands of vetted, local haulers to improve efficiency and performance. Our data-driven services enable customers to track deliveries and pickups from any device. Our powerful haulsourcing platform helps our customers make waste and recycling simple.
For more information on finding the right dumpster for your next junk removal project, contact Sourgum. Our team will help you pick the right roll-off dumpster or waste removal service for your needs.
