JUNK-A-SAURUS🏠 HomeWhat Junk Removal Companies Won't Take, and What to Do
Junk-A-Saurus hauls almost anything, but a few items are regulated and can't go in a standard load. Here's what we can't take, and how to get rid of them the right way.
What we can't haul
- Wet paint, stains & solvents
- Motor oil, gasoline & other fuels
- Propane tanks & pressurized cylinders
- Asbestos & asbestos-containing materials
- Medical or biohazard waste
- Ammunition & explosives
- Most household chemicals & pesticides
What we DO take
Just about everything else: furniture, appliances, mattresses, electronics, yard and construction debris, hot tubs, and full garage, home, estate and office cleanouts. If you're not sure, text a photo to 801-516-9569 and we'll tell you straight.
How to dispose of the rest
Hazardous items go to a household hazardous waste facility. Salt Lake County runs drop-off sites for paint, chemicals and oil. Propane tanks can often go back to the exchange where you bought them. Dried-out paint cans (lid off, fully hardened) can sometimes go in regular trash.
Why the rules exist
None of this is a company policy we could waive if we felt like it. Hazardous waste is regulated at state and federal level, landfills refuse loads containing it, and a hauler caught bringing it in loses the ability to tip there at all. That is why every legitimate junk removal company in Utah has the same list.
Where each restricted item actually goes
the Salt Lake County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, 8805 South 700 West, Sandy — (385) 468-4380 takes all of the following free from Salt Lake County residents, Monday to Saturday, roughly 7am to 5pm:
- Paint, stains and solvents
- Motor oil, fuels and automotive fluids
- Pesticides and yard chemicals
- Batteries and aerosols
- Cooking oil
- Fluorescent tubes and anything containing mercury
- TVs, monitors, computers and phones
They cannot take ammunition, fireworks or radioactive material — those go to your local fire department. Propane tanks usually go back to the exchange cage where you bought them.
The three that catch people out
Paint
Liquid paint is hazardous. Fully hardened paint often is not. A can left open in a warm garage until it is solid all the way through can generally go in regular trash with the lid off, which turns a special trip into nothing. Kitty litter or a hardener speeds it up.
Anything with refrigerant
Fridges, freezers, AC units and dehumidifiers all contain refrigerant that must be professionally recovered before disposal. We can still take these — it just has to be done properly rather than dropped in a trailer, so mention it when you book.
Asbestos
The one to be careful about in any pre-1980 house. Popcorn ceilings, old vinyl floor tiles, pipe lagging and some textured coatings can contain it. It needs testing and licensed abatement. If in doubt, do not disturb it and do not bag it.
When you are not sure
Text a photo to 801-516-9569 and ask. It takes seconds and it is far better than a crew arriving to find something in the pile that stops the job.