June 5, 2025
When decluttering your Denver home or business, it’s tempting to toss everything into one big pile for removal. However, not all junk is created equal. Certain items, classified as hazardous waste, require special handling and disposal to protect our health and the environment. Understanding what materials fall into this category is crucial for a smooth and responsible junk removal experience. At Junk Be Gone, we’re committed to eco-friendly practices, which includes educating our clients on proper waste segregation.
Hazardous waste encompasses materials that pose a significant threat to public health or the environment if mishandled. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) oversees hazardous waste management, aligning with federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) guidelines. These regulations classify waste based on characteristics like ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. Common household items such as paints, cleaners, batteries, pesticides, and automotive fluids can fall under this umbrella.
It’s important to note that junk removal services like Junk Be Gone are generally not permitted to transport or dispose of hazardous waste. Our focus is on non-hazardous materials like furniture, appliances, yard debris, and construction materials (excluding asbestos). Improperly disposing of hazardous items with your regular junk can lead to safety risks for our crew, contamination at transfer stations, and potential environmental damage.
To ensure a safe and compliant junk removal process, here’s a list of common hazardous materials that require separate, specialized disposal and should not be included with items for Junk Be Gone:
While Junk Be Gone can often handle TV removal and some appliance recycling, certain electronics fall under e-waste regulations. Disposing of electronic equipment in the trash is illegal in Colorado. Electronics contain harmful substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium. The City and County of Denver offers an E-cycle Coupon program for residents. Items typically requiring specialized e-waste recycling include:
Junk Be Gone does offer recycling services for many items, so please inquire if you’re unsure about specific electronics.
So, what should you do with these hazardous items? Denver and surrounding areas offer several resources for safe disposal:
Always check the City and County of Denver’s official website or call 311 for the most up-to-date information on hazardous waste disposal options and regulations.
At Junk Be Gone, we’re dedicated to making your decluttering process as easy and environmentally responsible as possible. While we can’t take hazardous materials, we excel at removing a wide array of other unwanted items. Whether you’re clearing out an office, tackling a property clean-up, or finally getting rid of that old hot tub, our team is ready to help.
We proudly serve residential and commercial clients throughout Denver, including developers, real estate agents, and property managers. Our commitment to friendly, efficient service and our extensive experience ensure your junk is handled professionally. We also prioritize donations and recycling for items that can be diverted from landfills, striving to keep over half of each load out of them.
Let Junk Be Gone handle the heavy lifting for your furniture, appliances, yard waste, and more. We make junk removal in Denver simple and stress-free.
A: Generally, we cannot accept liquid paint, especially oil-based paints, as these are considered hazardous waste. Dried latex paint may sometimes be acceptable, but it’s best to utilize Denver’s free paint recycling programs. Junk Be Gone focuses on non-hazardous junk.
A: Car batteries and most rechargeable batteries require specialized recycling and cannot be included in your junk pile for our services. Regular alkaline batteries may be acceptable in small quantities if terminals are taped, but dedicated battery recycling is always preferred.
A: Electronic waste (e-waste) like TVs and computers is banned from Colorado landfills and requires specific recycling. While we offer TV removal and can guide you, it’s best to use Denver’s E-cycle Coupon program for proper disposal of most electronics. Some larger, non-hazardous appliances can be taken by Junk Be Gone via our appliance removal service.
A: Look for warning labels on the product (e.g., “Danger,” “Poison,” “Corrosive,” “Flammable”). Common culprits include chemicals, paints, automotive fluids, pesticides, and certain batteries. If unsure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and consult the City of Denver’s resources or contact the CDPHE.
A: Our trained team will identify and leave behind any items we cannot legally or safely transport. We will advise you on proper disposal methods for those items. It’s always best to separate these items beforehand.
CDPHE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The state agency responsible for environmental and public health protection, including hazardous waste regulation.
E-waste: Electronic waste. Discarded electrical or electronic devices.
Hazardous Waste: Waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. A federal law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste.
HHW: Household Hazardous Waste. Hazardous products used and disposed of by residential consumers, rather than industrial or commercial sources.
