The Junkluggers Green Summer Bucket List

With summer upon our ever-growing national operation, we’re soaking up all the sunshine and lugging more truckloads of items to keep out of landfills than ever before. That being said, when you think of summer do you think of plastic party cups, pool toys, and flip flops that break halfway through the summer? This season we’ve challenged our customers to be eco-friendly with a green summer bucket list. If you haven’t checked all of these items off your bucket list, there’s still time! 

Try to implement these items in your day-to-day life even after summer has passed!

• Start a garden or compost. There’s nothing like enjoying the (literal) fruits of your labor to snack on during the hot summer days.

• Switch to reusable bottles and straws. What other single-use plastics can you cut down your usage of?

• Recycle your old or unused electronics. Contact your local Junkluggers to see if they are participating in e-waste events near you! You can drop off your electronic waste for free and they will make sure it is donated or properly recycled. 

• Donate any of your furniture not in use. One person’s junk is another treasure, so never let those items hit the trash! 

• Shop locally and buy from farmers markets. Supporting communities is part of our everyday mission, so what better way to do your part than through supporting local businesses!

• Enjoy nature through camping or green picnics. Getting outside and participating in green activities are great ways to have fun and get passionate about the environment. 

• Sundry your clothes with a DIY clothesline. Whether your dryer is gas or electric, think of all the energy you’ll conserve and money you could save on your monthly bill!

• Donate any summer clothes you no longer wear! Trends change every year anyway, so why not give your closet a cleanse this season of all the things you never wear? 

What are we doing to be green this summer?

We understand that the Earth depends on businesses doing their part to be green, not just individuals. Here at The Junkluggers, not only do we make it our mission to keep items out of landfills, but we really strive to be eco-friendly in every way we can. That is why The Junkluggers have come up with an eco-friendly summer bucket list. 

The Junkluggers is doing everything we can to give back to the earth this summer! See some of our very own bucket list items that Junkluggers franchisees across the nation have checked off. 

• Create a community compost or garden: Pictured below, The Junkluggers of Gainesville grew fresh vegetables at their local Remix Market! By growing your own vegetables, or even shopping from your local farmers market, you are not only getting fresh produce but you are also cutting down on carbon emissions from the shipping of foods.

• Participate in local e-waste events: Many of our franchisees participated in e-waste events across the nation. To name a few, The Junkluggers of Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties participated in a Paper Shredding and Electronic Waste event. They saved a full truck’s worth, or 15 cubic yards of e-waste from a landfill! Our locations in Queens & Long Island, Chicago NW Suburbs, and Baltimore all kept e-waste out of landfills through electronic waste recycling events as well. 

• Give unwanted items a new life or home: Gail Tavill, franchise owner of The Junkluggers of West Chicago Suburbs made a “home” sign out of used corks. Another franchisee who gave an unwanted item a new home is The Junkluggers of Gainesville. They made a LOVE sign out of unwanted items to spread love in their community and use Remix Market to upcycle and resell old furniture with a portion of all proceeds going to local charities! Also, The Junkluggers of Central VA had a grand opening this summer for their new Remix Market space which allows them to give items a new life every day that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.  

• Donate to a school, library, food pantry or non-profit organization: Amy Spahr, owner of The Junkluggers of Santa Clarita Valley, donated an anatomical model of a spine to their local High School. The Junkluggers of Sarasota partners with Sun Coast Charities for Children and has been supporting them for over 3 years by donating and helping out at events such as Thunder by the Bay and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. The Junkluggers of Greater Boston worked with Hope & Comfort and School on Wheels to host a donation drive for school and hygiene supplies for students in need. The Junkluggers of Southwest Las Vegas donated proceeds from items sold to Hearts Alive Animal Rescue. Every day, our green professionals pick up items customers no longer want and work with local organizations to keep these items from ending up in landfills. 

• Give a shoutout to local charity partners: Our Junkluggers locations in Baltimore, Queens & Long Island, and Chicago NW Suburbs featured some of their charity and donation centers they work with to keep items out of landfills including Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and Second Chance. In addition, The Junkluggers of Berks, Chester, & Lancaster Counties began doing a weekly “Motivational Monday” which gives shoutouts to their partners. We are so thankful for our charity and donation partners across the nation who help us to keep items out of landfills every day. Without them, our mission would not be possible.

• Organize a community cleanup or beautification: Our Junkluggers locations in Baltimore, Queens & Long Island, and Chicago NW Suburbs featured some of their charity and donation centers they work with to keep items out of landfills including Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and Second Chance. In addition, The Junkluggers of Berks, Chester, & Lancaster Counties began doing a weekly “Motivational Monday” which gives shoutouts to their partners. We are so thankful for our charity and donation partners across the nation who help us to keep items out of landfills every day. Without them, our mission would not be possible. 

• Celebrate an eco-friendly win you’re proud of! The Junkluggers of Baltimore collected and donated wood to someone who used it to build an outdoor stage. Chicago NW Suburbs donated 100lbs of Strathmore art paper to Central 301 Public School! So far this summer, 5 more Junkluggers locations have opened their truck doors for business to keep even more items out of landfills. Big or small, we are proud of all of our eco-friendly wins! 

Are you inspired? 

If we all work together, we can make a difference in the environment. Here at The Junkluggers, our mission is to enhance lives, the community and the environment through donating, recycling and supporting local charities. Now that you have read about a few of our franchise's green efforts this summer, follow us to see many other eco-initiatives, tips and tricks to keep items out of landfills. Think about how you can make an impact. Maybe that means buying second-hand, recycling, and shopping locally, or maybe that means bringing a green bucket list to your office and encouraging your fellow colleagues to participate. The possibilities are endless when we work together!