The recliner broke in July. It is fall now, and you still step around it to reach the window. The garage has not held a car since the second bike went in. Behind the shed, a Weber kettle is rusting into the fence line. None of it is hard to get rid of. It needs a list and a truck.
This is the list: the 25 things we haul most often on junk removal jobs across Sacramento, from Natomas townhouses to Elk Grove listings to Midtown garages. For each one we note where it ends up, how much truck space it takes, and the California rule that applies if there is one.
The short version: we take all 25 categories below. Mattresses, electronics and tires have their own disposal rules in California, and we take them to the right facility. Pricing is by truck space, not per item, so one full load of mixed junk costs less than the same items picked up one at a time. Same-day pickup is available most days.
Furniture
1. Couches & Sofas
Couches are the item we haul most. They are bulky, awkward and will not fit in anything you own. A loveseat from a Fair Oaks condo or an L-shaped sectional from a Roseville family room: we carry it out, down the stairs and through the tight hallway.
- Where it goes: a clean couch goes to a local charity when we can. A stained or broken one goes to the transfer station.
- Truck space: about 1/6 of a load for a single couch. Add other items and the per-item cost drops fast.
One note on rules: California’s SB 1383 organic waste regulations do not apply to furniture. The piece of the bedroom set with a real recycling program is the mattress, which is next.
2. Mattresses & Box Springs
Drive Stockton Boulevard or pass under a freeway overpass and you will see where Sacramento County’s unwanted mattresses end up. Do not add to the pile. California runs a statewide mattress recycling program, Bye Bye Mattress, through the Mattress Recycling Council.
- Where it goes: out the door with the crew, in one trip.
- Truck space: a mattress and box spring are a quick pickup, usually a minimum load.
3. Dressers & Cabinets
A solid wood dresser from your grandparents’ house is in demand at Sacramento resale shops. The particleboard one from college is not. We take both, along with wardrobes, armoires, china cabinets and entertainment centers of any size.
- Where it goes: quality wood pieces are often donated. Damaged or laminate pieces go to the transfer station.
- Truck space: dressers stack neatly beside other bedroom furniture.
4. Tables & Chairs
Dining tables, kitchen sets, patio sets, folding tables. We pick up whole dining sets from homes in Carmichael, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova during remodels and estate cleanouts.
- Where it goes: wood and metal tables are highly recyclable, and complete sets are donated when their condition allows.
- Truck space: a table and chairs take about 1/8 to 1/4 of a load.
Clearing a whole dining room? Put the table, chairs and hutch on one appointment. You pay for the truck space, not per piece, so the more that goes on the truck, the less each piece costs you.
5. Desks & Office Furniture
Working from home left a lot of Sacramento houses with an oversized desk, a rolling chair and a filing cabinet nobody opens. We haul all of it, from a flat-pack IKEA desk to a 200-pound executive desk.
- Where it goes: office furniture in good shape is often donated to local nonprofits and small businesses. File cabinets and metal desk frames go to the scrap recycler.
- Truck space: varies by desk, but most ride along with the rest of a home office.
Appliances
6. Refrigerators & Freezers
A fridge is not just heavy. Under EPA regulations the refrigerant (Freon or a newer coolant) has to be recovered before the unit is recycled. We take it to a recycler where a certified technician does that, and the steel, copper and plastic are recycled afterward. If the fridge still runs, SMUD’s appliance recycling program has offered free pickup and a $50 rebate for qualifying refrigerators and freezers. If yours does not qualify, or you need it gone today, that is a job for us.
- Where it goes: a recycler. Refrigerant recovered by a certified technician, metal and plastic recycled, working units may qualify for SMUD’s program.
- Truck space: a fridge on its own is usually a minimum load.
7. Washers & Dryers
Over 90% of a washer or dryer is recyclable metal, which makes laundry machines the easiest appliances to keep out of a landfill. Once the unit is disconnected, we carry it out of the Folsom laundry room and take it to a metal recycler.
- Where it goes: Sacramento-area scrap metal recyclers.
- Truck space: a washer and dryer pair fits easily and is one of our most common appliance pickups.
8. Dishwashers
Compact, but annoying to remove when it is built in. Have the water line and power disconnected first and we take it from there.
- Where it goes: mostly metal, so the scrap recycler.
- Truck space: small. Pair it with other kitchen appliances or the old cabinets.
Clearing several old appliances at once? Contact us for a free estimate. We cover Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville and the surrounding area.
9. Ovens, Stoves & Ranges
Gas or electric, freestanding or slide-in, we haul all cooking appliances. A gas unit needs to be disconnected and the line capped by a plumber or PG&E before we arrive. We do not cap gas lines.
- Where it goes: scrap metal. Working units may be donated.
- Truck space: moderate, and it fits beside other kitchen appliances.
10. Microwaves & Small Appliances
Microwaves, toaster ovens, stand mixers, window AC units, space heaters. They collect on a garage shelf one at a time until the shelf is full.
- Where it goes: small appliances hold recyclable metal and some e-waste parts, so they go to the right facility for each.
- Truck space: almost none. Add them to a bigger haul for practically no added cost.
Yard & Outdoor Items
11. Hot Tubs & Spas
Hot tub removal is one of our most requested specialty jobs in Sacramento, especially in Roseville, Granite Bay and El Dorado Hills, where backyard spas are common. A 500-pound fiberglass shell does not leave through a side gate in one piece. We cut it apart on site, haul the pieces and leave the patio or deck clean. A typical removal takes our crew 60 to 90 minutes, cutting and cleanup included. We have pulled them off second-story decks, out of tight side yards and through fences.
- Where it goes: fiberglass, wood, metal and electrical parts are separated and recycled where possible.
- Truck space: a specialty job, usually half to a full truck. Hot tubs run $300 to $600 and up depending on size, location and access.
12. Sheds & Outbuildings
The leaning shed with the termite damage: we take it down and haul everything. Wood sheds, metal sheds, plastic storage units and small outbuildings. Sacramento’s hot summers and wet winters wear them out, and shed removal requests spike every spring.
- Where it goes: wood is recycled or disposed of per Sacramento County standards, and metal goes to scrap. We check for old paint cans and pesticides before demolition, because we do not haul those.
- Truck space: half to a full truck, depending on size and materials.
13. Fencing & Gates
Replacing a fence? We haul the old one. Wood, chain-link, wrought iron, vinyl panels, all of it. Fence haul-away is busiest during Sacramento’s spring remodeling season.
- Where it goes: metal fencing is recycled as scrap. Wood fencing is disposed of or recycled depending on condition; treated lumber cannot go in green waste under California regulations.
- Truck space: fencing is light but bulky and takes more room than you would guess.
14. Swing Sets & Playsets
The kids grew up. The swing set did not. We disassemble and haul wooden playsets, metal swing sets, trampolines and plastic play structures, a common pickup in Elk Grove, Natomas and Rocklin.
- Where it goes: metal frames are recycled. Wood and plastic go to the right facility.
- Truck space: a large wooden playset can take a big share of a load. Metal swing sets pack smaller.
15. BBQ Grills & Outdoor Equipment
Rusted Weber kettles, built-in gas grills, patio heaters, fire pits, outdoor pizza ovens. We take them all. Remove the propane tank first: putting a propane tank in the trash is illegal in California and dangerous, and we do not haul them. Take old tanks to a Sacramento County household hazardous waste facility.
- Where it goes: metal grills are scrapped and recycled.
- Truck space: small to medium. Pair a grill with patio furniture for an efficient outdoor cleanout.
Electronics & E-Waste
16. TVs & Monitors
The tube TV from 2004 is worth nothing on Craigslist. It is also e-waste under California law, and it cannot legally go in the trash. We can take a few TVs or monitors alongside a regular pickup and drop them at an e-waste recycler. A large lot should go directly to an e-waste recycler.
- Where it goes: California’s Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) program requires TVs and monitors to be recycled through certified collectors.
- Truck space: light and flat, an easy add-on to any pickup.
17. Computers & Laptops
Desktops, laptops and all-in-ones ride along with a regular pickup, a few at a time. Wipe or remove your hard drives before we arrive; we do not wipe or destroy drives.
- Where it goes: an e-waste recycler, where copper, gold and rare earth metals are recovered.
- Truck space: practically none.
18. Printers, Scanners & Peripherals
Inkjets, laser printers, scanners, fax machines (yes, people still have those) and networking gear. All of it is e-waste in California. A few can come along with a regular pickup.
- Where it goes: an e-waste recycler. Pull the ink cartridges first if you can; many office supply stores take them back.
- Truck space: minimal, ideal with a home office cleanout.
19. Gaming Consoles & Audio Equipment
Old PlayStations, Xbox 360s, stereo receivers, speakers, turntables, home theater systems. Sacramento garages hold electronics from every decade. We can take a few alongside a regular pickup.
- Where it goes: California’s e-waste rules apply. Working items may be donated.
- Truck space: negligible.
20. Cables, Cords & Misc. Electronics
Every house has the box: tangled chargers for phones you no longer own, a dead router, a VCR. Do not throw it in the trash; most electronic parts fall under California’s e-waste rules.
- Where it goes: cables carry copper and other recyclable metal. The whole box rides with a regular pickup to an e-waste recycler.
- Truck space: none worth measuring. Toss it in with everything else.
Miscellaneous & Specialty Items
21. Tires
Tires are among the most illegally dumped items in Sacramento County and among the most regulated. You cannot put tires in regular trash in California, and most landfills charge a separate tire fee. Retailers collect a $1.75 California Tire Fee on every new tire to fund recycling, which does not help when the previous owner left a stack behind the garage. We take limited quantities, so call first and tell us how many.
- Where it goes: California’s Waste Tire Program, managed by CalRecycle, requires approved haulers and processors. Tires become rubber mulch, playground surfaces and fuel.
- Truck space: tires are charged individually or in small sets because of the special disposal fees.
22. Carpet & Flooring
Ripped up the carpet in a Rancho Cordova remodel, or pulled the vinyl in a Davis rental? Carpet and padding are heavy, bulky and messy, and nobody wants them in the driveway. We haul rolled carpet and padding. Mixed flooring and tile debris from a demolition is a job for a licensed C&D hauler or a debris dumpster.
- Where it goes: California’s AB 2398 Carpet Stewardship Program, run through CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort), supports carpet recycling. We take carpet to the right facility.
- Truck space: a room’s worth of rolled carpet fills 1/4 to 1/3 of a load.
23. Exercise Equipment
Treadmills, ellipticals, weight benches, Peloton bikes, multi-station gyms. Most of them have spent the last two years as clothing racks. They are heavy and awkward to move, which is exactly why people call us instead.
- Where it goes: metal frames are recycled. Electronics in smart equipment are handled as e-waste. Working items may be donated.
- Truck space: a treadmill or multi-station gym takes 1/4 to 1/3 of a load.
24. Pianos
Nobody wants to be the person who throws out a piano. But the 1978 upright has not been tuned in a decade and nobody plays it. Piano removal is a specialty job: an upright weighs 400 to 800 pounds, and a grand weighs more.
- Where it goes: a playable piano is donated when we can. One that cannot be donated is broken down and the metal is recycled.
- Truck space: priced as a specialty item. Stairs, tight hallways and the distance to the truck all factor in.
25. Construction Debris
Remodeling a kitchen in Land Park or building a deck in West Sacramento leaves lumber, drywall, concrete, roofing, nails, tile and fixtures. Mixed construction debris is not something we haul. A single-material load (metal only, concrete only, or clean wood only) is worth a call.
- Where it goes: kept separate, clean wood, metal and concrete each have a recycling stream in the Sacramento area, which is why we take them one material at a time. We do not sort mixed debris. Permitted projects with diversion requirements need a licensed C&D hauler.
- Truck space: concrete reaches the truck’s weight limit long before it fills the box, so those loads are priced by weight as well as volume.
Sacramento & California: Items Requiring Special Handling
Eight items on this list carry a legal requirement in California or Sacramento County. The quick reference:
| Item | Regulation | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| TVs & Monitors | CA Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) | Must be recycled through state-certified collectors, cannot go in trash |
| Computers & Electronics | CA E-Waste Laws (SB 20/SB 50) | All e-waste must be taken to certified recyclers or collection events |
| Refrigerators & Freezers | EPA Section 608 (Refrigerant Recovery) | Coolant must be professionally recovered before recycling |
| Tires | CalRecycle Waste Tire Program | Cannot go in regular trash; must use approved tire haulers |
| Carpet | AB 2398 Carpet Stewardship | Carpet manufacturers fund recycling programs through CARE |
| Mattresses | Bye Bye Mattress / Used Mattress Recovery & Recycling Act | Statewide recycling program funded by point-of-sale fee |
| Propane Tanks | CA Fire Code / Sacramento County HHW | Cannot go in trash; must be handled as household hazardous waste |
| Construction Debris | Sacramento County C&D Diversion Ordinance | Permitted projects must divert most construction waste from landfill; that is a job for a licensed C&D hauler |
Everything we take goes to the proper facility: metal and appliances to recyclers, the rest to a county transfer station. Hazardous waste and mixed construction debris are the two things we leave to specialists. A Craigslist hauler with a pickup truck cannot tell you where your load went. We can.
How Our Sacramento Junk Pickup Works
- Check off your items from the list above, on paper or in your head.
- Text a photo of the pile to (916) 770-7619, or book online and save $20. We quote from the photo.
- We show up when we said, often the same day, and confirm the price by truck space before anything moves.
- We carry everything out from wherever it sits. Nothing has to go to the curb.
- We sort the load: usable items to a charity when we can, metal and appliances to recyclers, the rest to the transfer station.
How it goes, in one repeat customer’s words:
“I have used TCJ Hauling about four times over the last couple of years. Serge is prompt, professional and all his work is done quickly. His pricing is extremely reasonable and he’s flexible when I have extra items to add on.”
Margaret Ortega, GoogleFrequently Asked Questions
What items do junk removal companies take?
Full-service junk removal companies like ours take furniture, appliances, yard waste, mattresses, tires, exercise equipment and most other household items, plus a few electronics alongside a regular pickup. The exceptions are hazardous materials: chemicals, paint, asbestos, medical waste. Not sure about a specific item? Text us a photo.
How much does junk removal in Sacramento cost?
By truck space, not per item. A minimum load (a few small items) runs $99 to $150, and a full truck handles an entire garage cleanout. You get a firm price before any work begins.
Do you offer same-day junk removal Sacramento service?
Yes. Same-day and next-day pickups run across Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, West Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and the surrounding area. Call in the morning and we can often be there by afternoon.
What happens to my junk after you take it?
Metal and appliances go to recyclers, usable items go to a charity when we can, and the rest goes to a county transfer station.
Can you remove items from inside my house?
Yes. Unlike curbside pickup, we come inside and do the lifting. Upstairs bedrooms, basements, garages, backyards: point to what goes and we take it from there.
Do I need to be home during the pickup?
We prefer someone is there so we can walk the items together and confirm the price. If the items are accessible and the price is agreed ahead of time, we can do a contactless pickup. Just say so when you book.
Ready to Check Items Off Your List?
One old couch or a whole house of it, the pickup works the same way. Call or text (916) 770-7619, or book online and save $20. We serve Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, West Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and all surrounding areas, and the price is settled before we lift anything.
