What Junk Removal Won't Take in Boise, and Where It Goes Instead

A garage cleanout is a good reminder of what junk removal won't take. The old couch, the busted treadmill and the boxes of who-knows-what are easy.

Then you get to the back shelf.

Half-empty cans of oil paint. A rusty propane tank. A jug of something that used to be pool shock, and a gas can with a little fuel still sloshing around in the bottom.

"You can take all that too, right?" Honestly, not all of it. We hear that question a lot, so here's the straight answer for Boise and where those leftovers should go instead.

Why a junk removal crew turns some stuff down

It's not us being picky. Yes, we'd happily haul every last thing out of your garage, because that's the job.

But most of what we pick up ends up at the Ada County landfill, and the landfill has strict rules about what can come through the gate in a regular load. Hazardous stuff gets handled on its own for good reason.

Solvents leak. Pressurized tanks can burst when they get crushed. Pool chemicals that touch the wrong thing can start a fire in the back of a truck.

So when a crew says no to something, it usually just means it needs a different trip. Nobody's judging your garage.

The usual things junk removal won't take

Every company draws the line a little differently, so it's worth asking before the truck shows up. These are the ones we run into most around the Treasure Valley.

Oil-based paint, stains and solvents. Paint thinner, lacquer, that old can of deck stain from 2011. These count as household hazardous waste.

Latex paint is a different story. Once it's completely dried out, it can usually go out with regular trash. Getting it dry is the trick, and we'll get to that.

Propane tanks and gas cans with fuel in them. Grill tanks, little camping canisters, the mower gas can. If it's pressurized or still holding fuel, it can't ride in a regular load.

Pool and garden chemicals. Chlorine tablets, pesticides, weed killer. A lot of Meridian and Eagle backyards have a shelf of these hiding behind the pool gear.

Car batteries, motor oil and antifreeze. Pretty much every garage has at least one. They each have their own drop-off path.

Anything that might be asbestos. Popcorn ceiling chunks, some old floor tiles, pipe wrap in older North End houses. If you're not sure, don't break it up.

Get it tested first. It's cheap peace of mind compared to the alternative.

Heads up: Don't pour old chemicals together to "consolidate" them before a cleanout. Mixing things like pool chlorine and household cleaners can make toxic fumes. Leave everything in its original container with the lid on.

Where the stuff junk removal won't take should go

Almost all of it has a place to go. And a lot of it costs you little or nothing to drop off.

Ada County takes household hazardous waste from residents at the landfill out at Hidden Hollow, and it runs mobile collection days too. The hours and dates move around, so check the county's current schedule before you load the car.

If you're over in Nampa or Caldwell, Canyon County has its own options. Same deal. Call ahead and ask what they're accepting.

Propane is easier than most people expect. Plenty of hardware and grocery stores with tank exchange cages will take an old grill tank, even a rough-looking one. The little camping canisters are trickier, so ask the hazardous waste folks about those.

Car batteries and used motor oil can usually go back to an auto parts store. Many of them take both.

Now, that latex paint. Pull the lid off and leave it in the garage during one of our hot, dry summer stretches, and it'll set up fast.

In a hurry? Stir in kitty litter or a paint hardener from the hardware store. Once it's solid, it can go with the rest of the junk.

What we're glad to take off your hands

Most of what's sitting in a typical Boise garage or basement is fine. Furniture, mattresses, old appliances, yard debris, broken exercise gear, scrap wood, boxes of clutter, even that shed that's been leaning since the last windstorm.

If something's still in decent shape, we'd rather it skip the landfill. Usable furniture and household stuff can often go to Idaho Youth Ranch or St. Vincent de Paul, so tell us what you think is worth donating and we'll set it aside.

So what does it cost? Mostly it comes down to how much room your stuff takes up in the truck and how heavy it is.

A couple of items won't run you much. A packed garage costs more.

A little prep before we show up

Walk through the space the day before and move the questionable stuff into one corner. Paint cans, chemicals, tanks, batteries. Just group them.

That way we can load everything else quickly when we get there. And if you're unsure about something, we'll tell you straight whether it can come with us or needs its own trip.

Planning this for spring cleanup? The hazardous waste lines get long when half the valley is cleaning out garages the same weekend. Going a week early can save you a wait.

The bottom line

Most of your junk can go in one trip. The handful of hazardous things just need a separate stop, and Ada and Canyon County both make that pretty easy.

Sort the iffy stuff into its own pile and leave the rest to us. If you'd like a free estimate, or you're not sure whether something counts, give us a call at (208) 912-7550 and we'll talk it through.