Ottawa Junk Removal Blog
Tips for Eco Friendly Cooking
February 22nd, 2012
Cooking is something that just about every household does. Even if it’s not on a nightly basis, most people do cook meals at home several times per week, at least. That means it can add up to leaving a big carbon footprint. But the good news it that, in the matter of being more environmentally friendly, there are things you can do about it when it comes to cooking!
Ways to make your cooking more eco friendly include:
• Check your burner to ensure you are using the correct size. If you use one that is too big, you will end up wasting energy.
• Try to do as much of your food shopping locally as possible. The more food you use that has been grown in your area, the better for the environment.
• Look for organic, whenever possible. These foods will automatically be more eco friendly, before you even begin the preparation phase.
• Take your own bags with you when you go to the store or farmers market. This will save on all the bags that are used and tossed out each year.
• Try to forgo plastic as much as possible. If you have a choice between buying foods that are in jars or foods in plastic containers, opt for the jar. It’s more eco friendly to begin with, and will be easily recycled.
• Keep a cloth towel handy, rather than using up a bunch of paper toweling, when you are cooking.
• Only run the dishwasher once it is full, so that you don’t end up wasting water and electricity.
• When it comes to purchasing your cookware, look for pots and pans made from cast iron, aluminum or copper, which are all eco friendly options.
The little things that we do each day to be more environmentally friendly all add up. The more you do today, the better off the world will be tomorrow. And if we all make these changes, it will have a major impact on the planet.
When it comes to being eco friendly with any junk or unwanted items you may have, keep us at Capital Junk in mind. We serve the entire Ottawa area with professional junk removal services, and we do it in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Whether it’s old appliances, garage and basement cleanouts, old furniture, or other items, we can take care of it for you.
Interesting Garbage Facts Every Canadian Should Know
February 7th, 2012
How much do you really know about garbage? If you are like most people throughout Ottawa, as well as across Canada, it’s probably not much at all. Sure, you know that you have some, and that it gets taken out each week to the curb. But after that, most people don’t give it much thought. And that can be a huge, stinking problem!
For starters, did you know that Canada has some 10,000 landfills? It’s true! Each landfill takes up space and is, in all likelihood, near someone’s home. Nobody wants to live near a landfill, but if we keep filling them up at the rate we are going, we will need to create new landfills, which means finding new spaces to create them. And it has to go somewhere, so all you can do is hope it won’t be in your neighborhood.
Garbage is something that we can’t escape. It’s going to be there, no matter how hard we try to completely do away with it. Part of the problem lies not only in what is being produced, but in what is being done with it. The average Canadian creates about 2.7 kg of garbage each day, adding up to a combined total for the population of around 31 million tonnes of garbage per year. However, only 30 percent of that is recycled! That’s right, it is estimated that 67 percent of it ends up in landfills, both around Ottawa and all over Canada.
We can help change this, starting by doing our part to recycle. The more we keep out of area landfills, the better off the whole country, and ultimately planet, will be. Make it a goal this year to reduce, reuse, and recycle! The planet, and your neighbors, thank you for it.
If you have any junk that you need to get rid of, contact us at Capital Junk. We routinely help people keep a wide range of items out of landfills, including old appliances, furniture, garage and basement cleanouts, office cleanouts, and more. We make it a priority to do the most environmentally responsible thing with the items you no longer need.
Need to rent a dumpster or bin? No problem!
January 25th, 2012
Let’s face it – sometimes people have junk they need to get rid of. Sometimes it’s a lot of junk. That’s okay, don’t feel bad about it. If people didn’t have a lot of junk they needed removed, we wouldn’t exist! Some projects call for renting a dumpster or bin to put all the junk in, so that you can then sit back and relax while it’s all hauled way. And that’s exactly what we can do with our bins!
We offer bins that can be rented to help you with whatever it is you are working on or need to get rid of. Whether you are cleaning out an apartment or house, or doing a remodeling project, we have you covered. Simply choose one of our three sizes of bins, picking the one best suited to your project. We will conveniently drop it off for you. Then you can fill it up with all the junk you want removed, and we’ll be back to haul it all away.
Another great aspect of having us haul it all away is that we will do our best to be environmentally friendly with the items. If we can recycle them, we will. If they can be donated to charity, that’s where they will go. We make it our mission to keep as much out of area landfills as possible. Our bin junk-removal system is easy to use, affordable, and convenient. Plus, our trucks are licensed and insured, and our company is locally owned and operated.
A wide variety of items can go in the bins, including scrap wood, dry wall, insulation, tile, carpeting, bricks, shingles, toilets, furniture and more. Just about any old household items can go in the bin, making it a convenient solution.
Give us a call at Capital Junk to learn more about our bin rental. If you are in need of a dumpster to get rid of some junk, we have you covered! We serve the entire Ottawa area with a full range of environmentally friend junk-removal services.
Tips for Making Your Home More Energy Efficient This Winter
January 12th, 2012
It’s back, Ottawa! The cold weather is once again upon us, and that means heating bills will begin to creep up as the temperature falls. Heating the home typically makes up about half the amount of money and energy that the average family uses. The good news, is that there are some things you can do to help make your home more energy efficient this winter.
Here are some things you can do to make your home more energy efficient this winter:
• Insulate well. It is important to make sure that your walls and attic are well insulated, or a lot of energy will be lost. The money you invest in adding insulation will usually be well spent and will add up in energy savings throughout the year.
• Choose high energy. If you find yourself in the position of needing a new furnace this winter, opt for one that is high energy.
• Reduce temperature. You can save energy by reducing your water heater temperature setting. Typically, each 10 degrees that you reduce your water heater temperature setting will result in a 3-5 percent savings in energy costs.
• Seal windows. Plug those drafts coming into the home, which are adding to your energy bill. Pick up some sealant and within minutes you can have this problem solved.
• Close damper. If you have a fireplace and are not using it, always close the damper. Many people forget this little step, which can cause a lot of heat to go right out the chimney.
Taking these steps above will help you save money on your energy bills this winter, but it is also more environmentally friendly. And if you have an old water heater to get rid of, or other household junk, such as old furniture, appliances, or items from a cleanout, give us at a call at Capital Junk. We serve the entire Ottawa area with a full range of environmentally friend junk removal services.
This New Year, Resolve to Be Greener
December 19th, 2011
All around Ottawa, people are busy making preparations for the holidays. One thing they will be doing soon is making resolutions. With the start of each New Year, most of us make a few resolutions. This year, set your sites on resolving to be greener!
Most of us know the positive environmental impact of at least some of the choices that we make each day. It may be saving a bag at the grocery store by taking our own reusable one, or recycling our juice containers in order to keep them out of the area landfills. But in all likelihood, there are more things that each of us can do to live an environmentally friendlier life.
In addition to the more obvious things you can do to help the planet, there are some you may not have thought of. Here are a few you may want to add to your “green habits goals” list for the New Year:
• Get involved in a community cleanup. Whether you help with the Ottawa River cleanup or one in the park near your home, you will help to put trash and recyclables in their proper place.
• Adopt a Meatless Monday philosophy, foregoing meat each Monday. Taking a day each week to eat all-plant-based meals will help with everything from saving water to decreasing carbon emissions.
• When spring hits, plan a garden. Growing a garden in your yard is a good way not only to help keep expenses down, but to save resources that would be used buying produce that has been trucked into stores.
• Kick the bottled water habit. Ottawa has an abundance of fresh, clean water to drink. It will save you money and is better for the planet.
Another important goal is to avoid putting your unwanted junk out at the curb for trash pickup. All that does is send it straight to area landfills. At Capital Junk, we offer a more environmentally friendly approach to removing unwanted junk. Contact us to arrange a pick-up and we will take the most environmentally friendly approach we can with your items. From recycling to donating to thrift stores, we keep as much out of Ottawa landfills as possible, helping you to be more environmentally friendly.
Ways to Stay Green(er) While You Do Your Shipping
December 6th, 2011
The holidays are the busiest shipping time around the country. There are people shipping gifts near and far, as well as doing tons of online purchasing. Without a doubt, a lot of packages are being moved around during the month of December. While there is no way to be completely environmentally friendly in the shipping process, there are things you can do to make the process a bit greener.
Here are some ways to help make shipping your packages this season easier on the planet:
• Make an effort to buy gifts that are lighter in weight. This will also add to the overweight reduction in the truck or plane, and it will be better on your pocketbook, as well.
• If you are able to, purchase the gift online and have it shipped directly to the person. This cuts out one whole shipping transaction, as opposed to buying online, having it shipped to you and then re-packaging it yourself and shipping it back out again.
• When packaging your gifts, re-use boxes from your home. If you look around, you will likely find boxes from your kitchen that can be used, even if they need to be cut and turned inside out (e.g., cereal boxes). If you don’t have any, ask your grocery store for one. Whatever you do, avoid purchasing new boxes, which would be a waste of resources.
• Make your own packaging material, rather than buying it. You can do this by bunching up old newspapers or junk mail flyers.
• Let your packages pile up and make one trip to ship them, so that you don’t use additional resources making separate trips.
There is also a good chance that at least a package or two will be coming your way. When you do receive one, keep the planet in mind and recycle as much as you can from the packaging.
At Capital Junk, we also make every effort to be environmentally friendly. While we serve the entire Ottawa area with junk removal, ranging from hauling away old appliances and furniture to cleanouts and debris, we make it our mission to keep as much out of area landfills as possible. Contact us with any junk removal needs you may have, this season. Happy Holidays!
Junk Removal Benefits a Variety of Commercial Clients
November 18th, 2011
Many homeowners use junk removal services in order to gain more control over their homes, or just to save them some time in their busy schedule. But a lot of commercial clients also use junk removal services. There is no end to the possible types of services that may benefit from using junk removal services.
Some of the commercial junk removal services that may be needed include:
• Apartments. They may have tenants move out and need to have a cleanout of all the things they left behind.
• Restaurants. They often need junk removal after doing upgrades or getting new kitchen or dining room equipment and furniture.
• Industrial businesses. This type can benefit from commercial junk removal in a variety of ways. They may have left-over materials, debris, or junk from cleaning out their shop.
• Builders. There is always a lot of debris and materials left over at building sites. Builders can benefit from junk removal services since it saves them time and their site gets cleaned up quickly.
• Retail stores. When retail stores renovate or change their store around to showcase a new season or collection, there are always leftovers that need to be removed after the cleanout.
• Churches. Often receiving donations from the public, churches are left with items they cannot use and don’t know what to do with. Junk removal services make the perfect fit.
No matter what type of business someone has, there is often a need for junk removal services. At Capital Junk, we work with a wide variety of commercial accounts, as well as homeowners, to help them with all their junk removal needs. We can haul away any junk, debris or cleanout leftovers you need to get rid of, including old appliances, furniture, bathroom fixtures, lawn and garden equipment, household items, and more.
At Capital Junk, we strive to be environmentally friendly, so we recycle all that we can, donate items that can be reused, and minimize what gets taken to the Ottawa landfills. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your commercial or home junk removal services. We serve the entire Ottawa area and have built a great reputation for being professional and reliable, and for providing great customer service!
Tips for Apartment Cleanouts in Ottawa
November 7th, 2011
Millions of people across Canada live in apartments. There are even thousands living in apartments throughout Ottawa. Apartment living is desirable because it usually helps to keep expenses lower and is also ideal for those who want to avoid having to deal with lawn or home maintenance. But even those who plan to live in apartments long-term end up moving around at some point.
Apartment cleanouts are an important issue for the person or family renting the apartment, as well as for the apartment complex. The first steps for a successful apartment cleanout are taken by the renter, but the apartment complex often has to step in to make sure that the cleanout is done satisfactorily.
The best way to ensure a successful apartment cleanout is to enlist the assistance of a junk removal service, such as Capital Junk. We can help with apartment cleanouts anywhere in the Ottawa area, by:
• Hauling away any unwanted or left-behind furniture or appliances. If you are moving out and have boxes of items to get rid of, we can help. Likewise, if people have vacated the apartment and left things behind, we can have it all quickly removed.
• Removing any unwanted household items that have been left behind or are unwanted.
• Ensuring that everything will be taken care of in the most environmentally friendly manner possible. We try to keep things out of landfills, by recycling, and even donating to charity, when possible.
• Doing the work and heavy lifting of everything that needs to be removed.
Contact us today at Capital Junk to see how we can help you with your apartment cleanout. Whether you are a renter who is planning on moving or an apartment complex manager, we can help make your apartment cleanouts a breeze. We serve the entire Ottawa area and have earned a reputation over the years for being professional, reliable, and affordable. Contact us today!
The Benefits of Hiring a Junk Removal Service in Ottawa
October 19th, 2011
Everyone has junk at one time or another. We may all have it, but we don’t always know what to do with it. Rather than simply throwing it out to the curb for the trash collectors, or taking it to the landfill, call a junk removal service to pick it up for you!
Here are some of the benefits of hiring a junk removal service in Ottawa the next time you have junk or clutter that you need to get rid of:
• Save time. We live in busy times today. By calling a junk removal service you can avoid putting in all the time it takes to try and rid yourself of the junk and clutter.
• Save labor. Getting rid of junk from cleanouts, especially if it includes things like old appliances and furniture, can be tiresome. It may also be physical labor that some people, especially the elderly, are unable to do. A junk removal service will do the hard work for you.
• Proper disposal. Sometimes people dispose of things by putting them in landfills, when they really shouldn’t be there. The items may contain harmful chemicals or substances that need to be properly disposed of. Junk removal services ensure that everything they remove is properly and safely disposed of.
• Be green. When you call a junk removal service they will ensure that any of your junk that can be reused goes to area thrift stores or recycling centers. You can rest assure, knowing that you made a simple environmentally friendly junk removal decision.
Give us a call at Capital Junk when you have unwanted junk, clutter, cleanouts of household or commercial properties. We serve the entire Ottawa area with complete junk removal service. We take pride in the fact that we save you time, labor, and always dispose of items properly and in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.
Whether you have old appliances, basement or garage cleanouts, apartment cleanouts, or have old furniture to get rid of, we have you covered. We serve both residential and commercial customers throughout Ottawa. Contact us today!
There is still time for a garage cleanout!
October 3rd, 2011
Summer may be behind us and the colder weather is upon us, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have time to get the junk cleaned out of the garage. After all, just think about how nice it will be to park your car in there, this winter. You may not appreciate it now, but you sure will on some frosty February morning!
Cleaning out the garage is a task that leaves many people scratching their heads. You look out there, see it filled with stuff, and it is easier just to close the door and walk away. But the mess will still be there, the next time you look! Garage cleanouts are easier than you may realize, especially if you follow these tips:
• Map it out. Before you get started, know what you want out of your garage. Draw a little map of the garage and where everything should be. Include such things as where you want to park, where the bikes will be located, and even where the tool bin will be.
• Get organized. Before you start, head to the store and invest in some clear plastic bins (so you can see what’s in them without having to open them) and metal shelving. While people often want to take shortcuts and avoid this purchase, it will do wonders for your garage! Add the shelving unit(s) to your map.
• Clean sweep. To begin with, take everything out of your garage. Then go through things, making a junk or get-rid-of pile for some items, while putting the other things back into the garage according to your map.
When you are finished, you will be left with a pile of junk or unwanted items. Good. That means that your garage cleanout was a success! You can easily get rid of that pile by calling us at Capital Junk.
We provide the entire Ottawa area with junk-removal services, and we will pick up everything from home, office and garage cleanouts to old appliances, and more. Plus, we make environmental responsibility a priority, as we work to keep as much of that junk out of landfills as possible, by donating and recycling it. Contact us today so we can help you to complete your garage cleanout!
