University Junk Removal started in London about three years ago, but I only learned about the company at the end of the summer of 2012. I had recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, and was searching for an opportunity to become part of a company that not only provided an excellent service, but also may provide me with some excellent experience. Once I met of the owners of University Junk Removal, I immediately knew that I had found what I was looking for. They sought out university students and recent grads to be part of the junk business, providing them with a chance to earn some money, while providing the community with a reasonably priced, sustainable junk solution. I had always wanted to be part of a company which took being green seriously, and I had found one.
Most of the junk we remove is either recycled or donated to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or an equivalent second hand store. Very little of what we remove is thrown out, unless of course it cannot be recycled, such as renovation debris insulation. We are often called to remove furniture, tools, or even exercise equipment that is in excellent condition and which makes a great donation.
One job in particular that I remember was for a group of students living together in Guelph, along with Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, is one of the cities that we provide service to. It turned out that the people living at their house before them had been there for two years, and had never taken out the garbage. Their garage was very literally filled with bags. It didn’t take us very long, but we removed every spec of garbage from the space, and both the students and the landlord could not have been happier. Having been a student not too long ago I can certainly appreciate the service we provide, and the price we are able to provide it at.
On that same day a job had been booked for later that morning, so when we finished early we headed over. It was for a gentleman who had just finished doing a large renovation, and had a lot of renovation debris. Drywall, wood, toilets, sinks, insulation, aluminum siding, shingles and a fridge were just some of the junk that needed to be removed. We ended up filling up our Junk Truck twice, and saved anything that could be donated to the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for last. I love that even during a job like this we can find a way to give something back and cut down on waste at the same time.
We have also had our fair share of experience with hoarders. The most recent job like this that I can remember occurred at the end of September 2012. It all began with an estimate. This is pretty common for when what sounds like a large job comes up. Most of time, the client would like an idea of the cost before deciding to go with any one junk company, and this time was no different. When we arrived, there were already two other junk companies there also doing a walk through and providing a quote. Once it was our turn, I was more than surprise with what I saw. The garage was full of old garbage bags, and the smell had filled the house, you could barely walk down the narrow hallway, which had been made narrower with boxes pilled on either side, and the basement had evidence of rats living in the house. It was certainly not a pretty picture, but we did our best to provide a fair and accurate quote of what it would cost to remove all the junk.
We ended up getting the job, and it took us almost 4 whole days to clear out the house. Of course, we had protective masks and suits during the whole job, and we began with the garage, which almost took a half day on its own. To finish a job of this size we had to call in an addition two guys, and we rented a large bin to fill on the driveway. On the first day we filled the bin twice. On the second day we focused on the kitchen and hallway. Here we found a lot of rotten food and more garbage, as well as dishes and boxes which took a significant amount of time to remove from the house. By the third day, we had begun emptying the basement. It was here that we had to be extra careful, since due to the poor air circulation, it was at times difficult to breath. However, with no setbacks, we were able to finish the job in less time than we originally thought we would, and the client was extremely pleased. It’s on junk jobs like this that we get to set a new benchmark for what we can accomplish without sacrificing customer service.
One last junk removal job that I remember was for a woman who purchased a junk bag from home depot to fill with renovation debris. However, once it was full, waste management was unable to pick it up due to low-hanging power lines. Once again, University Junk Removal was called in to do the job no one else could. The bag was full of drywall and shingles, and after sitting outside had become waterlogged and quite heavy. However, it was nothing that we couldn’t handle, and within an hour we had the bag emptied and in our truck.
I love working for a company who refuses to quit, and only sees opportunity where other may see challenges. University Junk Removal provides opportunities to students to work in a booming industry, where customer service and professionalism set our company apart from the rest. I also love the opportunity to develop invaluable management experience, while providing a fantastic service to a community which has only ever nurtured my growth and education.
