One of the most common questions we get before a cleanout: "Can you take X?" The honest answer is that junk removal companies can haul nearly everything out of a typical garage or home — but there are real exceptions, mostly around hazardous materials. This guide covers what we will and won't haul, and critically, where to take the stuff we can't.
What We Will Haul
The vast majority of what you'd find in a garage or home is fair game. Here's a working list:
- Furniture: Sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bookshelves, bed frames, mattresses
- Appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, microwaves, dehumidifiers
- Boxes and household goods: Boxes of stuff, clothing, kitchenware, books, décor
- Tools and equipment: Hand tools, power tools, shop equipment, workbenches
- Yard equipment: Lawn mowers, string trimmers, rakes, shovels, garden furniture
- Tires: Up to a reasonable quantity; dump fees apply
- Mattresses: Yes, with a recycling fee (landfill charges extra for mattresses — that's on us)
- Electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, printers — hauled and taken to an e-waste recycler
- Construction debris: Drywall scraps, lumber, old fixtures, broken concrete in manageable amounts
- Exercise equipment: Treadmills, weight benches, free weights (heavy but doable)
- Empty propane tanks: Small 1 lb camping canisters and standard 20 lb grill tanks that are empty
- Paint cans — dry or empty: Dried latex paint in cans is accepted at the landfill
What We Cannot Haul — And Where to Take It
The items below are things no reputable junk removal company can legally haul to a standard landfill. The reasons are usually environmental or safety regulations. Here's each item and your specific Fort Collins resource for handling it properly.
Liquid paint and stain Hazmat
Liquid latex or oil-based paint cannot go to a standard landfill — it needs to be dried out first or taken to a hazmat facility. Empty or fully dried cans are fine.
Where to take it: Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste facility (1800 S. County Rd. 5, Fort Collins). They run periodic drop-off events and a permanent facility. Free for residents. You can also dry out latex paint by leaving lids off or mixing in kitty litter/commercial hardener, then it becomes landfill-legal.
Motor oil (significant quantities) Hazmat
A quart of residue in a pan is different from a drum of used motor oil. Large quantities of motor oil are regulated as hazardous waste.
Where to take it: AutoZone, O'Reilly, and most auto parts stores in Fort Collins accept used motor oil for free recycling. Larimer County HHW also accepts it.
Full or unknown propane tanks Safety
We can haul clearly empty small tanks, but full 20 lb tanks or any tank of unknown status can't go in the truck safely.
Where to take it: Blue Rhino and AmeriGas exchange stations accept old tanks (Home Depot, Walmart, King Soopers). Larimer County HHW accepts non-exchangeable tanks.
Asbestos-containing materials Hazmat
Old floor tiles (especially 9"x9" vinyl tiles pre-1980), popcorn ceiling material, pipe insulation, and some drywall joint compound may contain asbestos. If you suspect it, don't disturb it.
Where to take it: Asbestos removal requires a licensed abatement contractor. The Larimer County Landfill does accept properly packaged asbestos waste — but it must be tested and bagged per CDPHE requirements first. This is a professional job.
Medical waste, sharps, medications Regulated
Needles, syringes, medications, and medical supplies can't go in a junk removal truck.
Where to take it: Most Fort Collins pharmacies have medication drop-boxes (CVS, King Soopers pharmacy). Sharps can be taken to Larimer County Public Health. Do not put sharps in regular trash or recycling.
Ammunition and firearms Safety
We don't haul live ammo or firearms. Beyond the obvious safety issue, firearms require proper transfer procedures.
Where to take it: Firearms can be surrendered to the Fort Collins Police Services. Ammunition can be taken to a gun shop or range — many will accept unwanted ammo. Larimer County HHW occasionally accepts ammo at special events.
Car batteries Hazmat
Lead-acid car batteries are hazardous and must be recycled properly.
Where to take it: Any auto parts store (AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA, Advance Auto) will take old car batteries for free — it's actually Colorado law that they must. Easy.
Flammable liquids (gasoline, solvents, acetone) Hazmat
Even small quantities of flammable liquids can't go in the truck for obvious safety reasons.
Where to take it: Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste accepts all flammable liquids. Don't pour them down the drain or into the yard.
Electronics: A Note on E-Waste
We do haul electronics — TVs, computers, monitors, printers. We take them to a legitimate e-waste recycler, not the landfill, because electronics contain heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) that are harmful if landfilled. Colorado has an e-waste recycling law (HB 08-1212) so proper disposal matters.
If you want to handle electronics separately before we arrive, you can drop them at Best Buy (they accept most electronics for recycling for free), or at Larimer County's periodic e-waste collection events.
The Short Version
If it came from a garage, basement, or house — we can almost certainly haul it. The exceptions are liquid hazmat (paint, fuel, oil in quantity), live ammo/firearms, and materials requiring special handling like asbestos. For those, Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste is your resource: they run a permanent facility and periodic drop-off events, and it's free for county residents.
Not sure about a specific item? Check the FAQ or call us at (970) 999-1818 before the job — we'll give you a straight answer.
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