Have you ever wondered what we do with all the junk we collect? When decluttering and clearing out unwanted items, it’s becoming more important everyday to think about where those items might end up once you get rid of them. At 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, we recycle the recyclables and donate the donateables as a way to divert items from the landfill. Across the United States, Canada, and Australia, our franchises work with a variety of different organizations to ensure they’re supporting their local communities. Whether it is donating quality items or hours of their day, these 1-800-GOT-JUNK? teams are making a difference in their communities.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? donations and making a difference
With over 160 franchise locations, each franchise has their own unique way of giving back to their communities. Keep on reading to find out what happens to the items collected, as we highlight just a few of the many 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchises who are supporting their local community with their donation initiatives!
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Kansas City | E-Waste Collection for Earth Day
In celebration of Earth Day, our Kansas City team went big—filling eight trucks with e-waste from over 500 packed cars that came through the event! Held in partnership with the local charity Hope is Alive, this event made it easy for community members to responsibly dispose of old electronics.
This kind of partnership shows the power of community and the impact we can have when we work together toward reducing waste. We're proud to be a part of local solutions to a global problem.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Toronto | A City-Wide Book Drive
In Toronto, the idea of giving books a new home came from one of our youngest environmentalists—Marlowe Guy. Marlowe, the 11th-grade daughter of Paul Guy (our Toronto Franchise Partner), is an avid reader who launched a city-wide book drive in early May to collect gently used books for those in need.
In partnership with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Toronto, the drive has helped countless stories find new readers—highlighting the impact of repurposing beloved books for a greater purpose.
1800-G0T-JUNK? Perth | Sort and Divert & Community Collaborations
We love seeing the old items we collect find great new homes. Thanks to our regular partnerships with Good Sammy and People Who Care in Perth, that’s exactly what happens! Supporting these organizations with ongoing donations and pickups truly makes a difference for families in need.
Also in the works, our Perth franchise is launching a delicious, community-focused initiative: a restaurant where everything, including the dishware, is repurposed and ready for a new home.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Okanagan | Habitat for Humanity Partnership
Habitat for Humanity Okanagan is proud to partner with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to keep reusable materials out of local landfills and redirect them to help local families build strength, stability, and independence through affordable homeownership. Our team identifies reusable items and delivers donations directly to one of four ReStore locations, reducing waste and taking a big step forward in creating a cleaner, more responsible future.
Every salvaged item helps fund Habitat’s mission: providing a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Together, we’re not just keeping things out of the landfill. We’re building homes. We’re building hope.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Ottawa | Upcycling at the Canadian Tulip Festival
At the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? created an upcycle garden—a whimsical, creative space made entirely from recycled materials. The installation invited visitors to stroll through a dreamlike garden of repurposed items, showing the power of reimagining everyday objects.
Created by artist Suzanne Begin, the garden transformed familiar objects like jugs and fishing line into trees, flowers, and clouds. Visitors left feeling inspired to see the potential in their own discarded items—and maybe even start a mini upcycling project at home.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Quebec | La Collecte Verte
On May 4, 2025, La Collecte Verte celebrated its 25th edition in Quebec City, collecting nearly 9 tons of old electronics from around 2,000 residents. This electrifying initiative, co-founded by 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Quebec, continues to thrive with their support–from managing logistics and providing trucks to offering team assistance and ensuring all items are properly sorted and diverted from the landfill.
Thanks to their continued involvement, La Collecte Verte remains a reliable, environmentally responsible way for the community to dispose of unwanted electronics. To learn more, visit 1800gotjunk.com/ca_fr.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Foxboro - Mansfield Public Library
Books are another common item that our teams will see while on the job. Whether you’ve downsizing or just clearing up some shelf space for new books to take their place, it can be hard to say goodbye to a beloved story and not be sure where it will end up.
The Foxboro team recently found bins full of books while on a job, and wanted to make sure they were being passed along to another lucky owner. Eager to make a difference, Truck Team Members Alex and Paul donated the books to the local public library. Another day, another adventure for these books!
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Vancouver Metro - Ride On Bike Shop
Ever wonder what might happen to that old bicycle collecting dust in your garage when you get rid of it? If it’s rusted or broken, donating it might not seem like an option–unless you’re 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. We partner with local organizations so our franchises can help give old bikes a second life.
Our Vancouver Metro team connected with a local shop, Ride On Bike Shop, to donate unwanted bicycles they received as a way to divert them from the landfill. The shop was able to repair the old bicycles and get them into the hands of those in need.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Philadelphia - Neighborhood Bike Works
The Vancouver Metro team isn’t the only one who wants to make a difference when it comes to bike donations. Our Philadelphia team set out to do something exceptional for their community and donated over 40 bikes to Neighborhood Bike Works, a local non-profit! This organization inspires youth and strengthens Philadelphia communities by providing equitable access to bicycling and bike repair through education, recreation, leadership and career-building opportunities. They run completely on bike donations, and our Philadelphia team was happy to support them and their mission.
1800-GOT-JUNK? Melbourne - St. Kilda Mums
In Melbourne, our team works closely with St. Kilda Mums, an organization that supports new families with repurposed nursery essentials. Beyond donating items like clothing and baby furniture, the Melbourne crew also helps dispose of unrecyclable donations through our eco-conscious junk removal service.
This partnership ensures that items are responsibly sorted and that St. Kilda Mums can focus on distributing safe, high-quality goods to families in need. Together, we're building a future where nothing good goes to waste.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? New Jersey Northeast - Second Chance Toys
In April 2022, the New Jersey Northeast team participated in an Earth Month Toy Drive with the organization Second Chance Toys.
Our team was able to load up their trucks with cleaned and packed toys and deliver them to their new home. In just one day, we diverted 4,500 pounds of plastic waste from landfills and delivered 1,000 toys to deserving kids. That’s an awesome way to celebrate Earth Month!
When asked about the partnership with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Zoe Cook-Nadel, the Director of Second Chance Toys, said, "Over the years, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has and continues to be so close to the heart of the Second Chance Toys mission…Truck Team Members and managers are always so eager and excited to participate in our toy drives, taking care of the lifting and transportation of thousands of pre-loved toys, and delivering them directly to kids in need the same day. We couldn't possibly divert this much plastic from landfills without 1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s constant support, spacious trucks, and true devotion to the state of our environment.”
Why Repurposing Matters
From bikes to books, and electronics to baby gear, our Franchise Partners are proving every day that junk can have value—if you know where to look. Through creativity, collaboration, and care, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is proud to drive change and reduce waste across the communities we serve.
Got something you’re ready to part with? You never know where it might end up next.
