Junk-It Scotland are delighted to announce that we have launched our very own Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee!
This pioneering scheme is designed to help Scotland’s residents dispose of waste responsibly, by identifying companies and professionals who have made a commitment to legal, safe, and environmentally friendly waste disposal.
Born out of a desire to raise awareness around the dangers of choosing ‘cowboy’ waste disposal companies who cut corners and engage in irresponsible or illegal waste disposal in an attempt to save some cash, our guarantee let’s you choose your contractor with confidence, safe in the knowledge that any items removed from your property will be dealt with in the most sustainable manner possible.
When you choose a company with the Junk-It Scotland Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee, you are choosing a business who:
- Is fully SEPA Registered
- Holds Full public and employer liability insurance
- Offsets carbon emissions via the Trees for Life scheme
- Follows a strict Waste Hierarchy (see below)
- Never EVER fly-tips or partners with unaccredited third-party waste disposal companies.
If a business wishes to offer our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee and reassure their customers that they are acting in a professional, responsible and legal manner at all times, they must fulfil ALL of the above criteria. If you don’t see the badge on their website, be aware, and make sure to check that they are legitimate before proceeding.
Identifying companies who offer our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee is simple, just look out for our fancy new green badge!
REMEMBER: If your waste isn’t disposed of properly, you could face very very serious consequences, so picking a waste disposal company is not something you want to take lightly.
Why Did We Introduce Our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee?
Founded all the way back in 2006 Junk-It Scotland have been providing professional junk removal services across Scotland for two decades now. Over that time we have built our success on an unwavering commitment to responsible disposal that goes above and beyond what is required by law.
Unfortunately, we have witnessed more times than we’d like to count the consequences of improper waste disposal and the terrible impact it can have on our environment, posing a serious threat to public health, wildlife, and the appearance of our towns, cities, and green spaces.
Fly tipping has always been a problem in the waste disposal industry, and over the years we have spent a huge amount of time clearing away illegally dumped waste, and spreading awareness about the dangers of choosing unauthorised waste disposal ‘companies’.
However, in the past few years the situation has escalated, and you will be lucky to walk down any street in our wonderful towns and cities without spotting litter or abandoned items cluttering the side of the road.
If your waste ends up being dumped, you are the one responsible, no matter if you paid someone to take it away, and could end up facing severe legal consequences as a result.
What our team repeatedly hear when they are out and about talking to customers is that whilst they are passionate about protecting the environment, they had no idea about the rules and regulations regarding safe waste disposal.
Most of the time, our customers simply want their homes and gardens clutter free, and whilst they care deeply about the environment and would never consider fly tipping themselves, they don’t know where to start when it comes to identifying a responsibly and sustainability focussed company to get rid of their waste.
With our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee, you can tell at first glance when a rubbish removal company has gone above and beyond in their commitment to sustainable waste disposal, and by reading this post, we hope you have learned a little about just how important these things are in protecting the planet we live on.
What is a Waste Hierarchy?
Following a strict waste hierarchy is a non-negotiable for any company offering an Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee.
By ensuring that every single item we uplift is processed in accordance with this waste hierarchy, we are able to guarantee that nothing is allowed to slip through the net and end up in landfill when a more environmentally friendly option is available.
Constantly reviewed and updated, the fundamental principles of the waste hierarchy are the basis of everything we do here at Junk-It Scotland, and at the core of the ‘Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee’.
Our Waste disposal process is as follows:
1. Donate and Reuse
Whenever possible, items we collect will be rehomed or donated to a local charity or community group. Many of our property clearances, particularly office and commercial clearances, involve removing furniture and other items that are in perfectly good condition, and are being removed simply to freshen up the space.
When it comes to donating items, the decision is often down to the charity shop to accept or not based on how much space they have, and what they are looking for at that moment in time.
2. Recycle
All wood, cardboard, plastics and metal items are are carefully recovered and taken to appropriate recycle stations for processing.
All items that we collect are sorted by hand to ensure that no recyclable materials are accidentally missed.
Some items are a combination of these and need to be split. Unlike many other waste collection companies, we manual split these items, minimising the risk of the items being rejected and ending up in landfill.
3. Specialist Item Disposal
Hazardous items, fridges, WEEE (waste electrical) mattresses and gas bottles (among many other items) all have to go to specific places for processing.
We don’t cut any corners here, and there may be a small surcharge for the uplift of items which must be processed at a certain location, simply to cover the cost of transporting them there. Companies that offer the removal of specialist items at very low discount prices should be treated with extreme caution as processing them properly and legally at bargain-basement prices simply isn’t possible.
4. Licenced Waste Transfer – Last Resort
At this stage (the last resort) remaining waste will be taken to a fully licensed waste transfer station, before the process is repeated after shredding to allow for more material to be recovered.
Find Out More About our ‘Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee’
To find out more about the reasons behind the launch of our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee, or to learn how your company can join the responsible waste disposal revolution and join the scheme yourselves, visit our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee page now.
Whilst we are a competitive business, we understand that real change is only possible when we all work together and would love to engage with other waste disposal companies, local authorities and public bodies to discuss other initiatives and ways that we can all work together to tackle the threat posed by fly tipping.
If you are junk or waste in your home, garden, garage, or business property that you need to get rid of and are looking for a guarantee that your waste will be disposed of in the MOST responsible way possible, look no further than Junk-It Scotland. To book an appointment, get a free quote, or learn more about what our Ethical Waste Disposal Guarantee means, get in touch with our fantastic team now on 0141 433 4330 (Glasgow) or 0131 228 3848 (Edinburgh).
