You’ve heard the saying about “one person’s trash is another’s treasure.” At OC Junk Hauling we operate under that assumption when we take your unwanted items and recycle or upcycle to be donated, so they aren’t dumped at a landfill. There’s already too much old stuff at landfills. Tons of items piled up over the years. In fact, you never know what you could find — like the recent discovery of ancient whale bones at the San Juan Capistrano landfill!!!

A pre-historic whale fossil was found at the Prima Deshecha Landfill, June 29, in a rock formation. Crews were there to excavate a new 57-acre area to put trash. Paleontologists say this particular whale finding may be a clue to an entire new whale species that would have lived  4 million to 7 million years ago.

So, what exactly did the scientists find at the San Juan Capistrano landfill? Before transporting the fossils to study facilities, it was reported that paleontologists had identified a snout, ribs, limb bones, portions of the backbone, and shoulder bones.

Cool! In our very own Orange County landfill.

According to the official California government site CalRecycle, “Landfills, as well as many other large excavation projects, can provide a significant avenue for paleontological research throughout California. The nature of these projects allows for large-scale removal of earth materials, which would otherwise be unavailable to the paleontological research community.”

Just in case you were wondering how somebody was able to spot the whale fossils from regular rock, that’s why the California Environmental Quality Act exists. It requires paleontologists to always be on site, joining work crews who are operating scrapers and digging up any new ground at landfills.

For example, the area where the whale bones were found is called the Capistrano Formation, which was once a deep ocean basin where sediment collected and turned into rock.

What makes this additionally interesting is that it’s not the first. California landfills, especially in the OC, are a paleontologist’s dream. Among the most recent was a fossil find at Palo Alto a few years ago.

And one final community-oriented point. Whether a landfill is located close to urban communities or rural areas, when operators recover and retain some fossils on site, there is a fantastic opportunity to provide a rare educational experience for local school students.

Hopefully, bringing in this news story helps you to see that taking your stuff down to the  landfill has its impact on history. What other archeological finds might be in the OC landfills, buried under items that don’t need to be there. If you have unwanted items, give OC Junk Hauling a call. Let us determine which can be recycled or upcycled and be used by someone else, rather than just being dumped. Call us at 949-424-9265.

Choose A Responsible Junk Hauling Company in Orange County

 

Junk is junk. And one junk hauler is the same as another, right? Noooooooo. Are they insured in case anything goes wrong? Will they clean up the mess on the ground after they pick up boxes? You need a check list, and whether you hire OC Junk Hauling or not, these are among the major things that should dictate your selection.

 

Ratings check up

Do your homework. Check them out even before contacting. Plenty of customer review sites like Yelp, Google, Angie’s List, etc. Anyone with a rating over 4 stars should be on your short list for consideration. We regularly reprint reviews or links to comments on our website and Facebook pages.

 

Personal referrals.

Rating sites can be extremely useful, but in the days of Fiverr, people can also get paid to write “awesome” reviews. Your friends, on the other hand, are going to give you the straight scoop.

 

Better Business Bureau (BBB).

After you’ve narrowed down your choices to 2 or 3 options, go the extra mile and see if the BBB has any file on them. The BBB accepts and investigates complaints so that you don’t have to.

 

Customer Service

We have a friend who says, “Customer Service is what takes place before, during and after the transaction of business.” What is your gut feeling when they answer the phone? Does their website look up-to-date & informative? Is there an active community-oriented blog (truth in advertising, and modesty aside, like ours?). Can you let them & the public know afterwards of your satisfaction or dissatisfaction? A company that cares about customers will make an extra effort to give customers ample ways to make comments.

 

Items taken

What do they take? Simple question, but you don’t want any surprises at pick up time forcing you to find one hauler for standard items and another for billiard tables and spas.

 

Quick removal.

Speedy service with a smile. It’s more than an old slogan. Good service can be measured in the time span from initial contact to removal. It’s not rocket science. You want stuff picked up. We have a truck.. “Can’t do it ‘til next week” means either they are very busy (best to opt for another company) or badly managed (run to the next company on your list).

 

Recycling policy

You wouldn’t like it if your neighbor dumped unwanted items on your front lawn, would you? Well then, give some consideration as to where YOUR items will be hauled by the potential company. Items don’t go up in a puff of smoke. Ask — and don’t be afraid of a nasty response of “what do you care” which would be a big clue that your unwanted items could end up dumped on the side of the road (see below Insurance). Will your items be dropped at a landfill, recycled, donated or even be upcycled?

 

Cleanliness

Picking up boxes, bushes and other junk is one thing. Cleaning up ensuing fallen debris is something extra. To get an indication of how much “care” they put in their efforts, try to get a peek at the condition of their trucks. If it is a beat up pick up instead of a professional vehicle, that could be a gauge on how well they take care of their other equipment and how professionally they operate. If you don’t care enough to take care of your truck… well, you get the point.

 

Insurance protection

Not what you think. Yes, you want the haulers insured in case they hit your garage or break a window. But the greater concern is if you have hired a non-licensed fly by night company that then illegally dumps your stuff on the side of a road. Notice the word “illegally?” That means a crime has been committed. If they can’t be found but your name can be on the items, guess who the police will be visiting with a summons? Who do you think the judge will stick with the bill if the “company” can’t be found?

 

Buy Local!!!

Sure, full disclosure, this may be a personal preference, but going with a local business over a national chain keeps the income in your area where it does some real good.  Whether junk hauling or eating out, going local is the way to go. OC Junk Hauling is a locally owned and family operated business serving Orange County for over a decade. Call +1 (949) 424-9265

What to Do with the Stuff “Stuffed” into the Corners of Your House

“A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.” That memorable quote from comedian George Carlin is an interesting one when you think about moving time. What will you do with all that stuff? Give it away? Trade it? Sell it?

OC Junk Hauling

Providing the OC area with professional, fast and eco-friendly junk removal services.

Bothered by insects and bugs that creep, fly or just pry their way into your clean Orange County home during the sweltering days of August? First thing you need to do is call OC Junk Hauling to take away any fallen branches, yard waste, boxes, etc. that could be spawning or resting grounds from which bugs launch their assaults on your home. Then locate a florist!

That’s correct. If you don’t want your home to reek of pesticides, fungicides and pest strips, go all natural. Use flowers.

Pyrethrum

There is a  compound found within many insect-repelling flowers. It is called pyrethrum. Warning, it is also toxic to pets, so keep them away or out of reach of your flowers. As with any outside source you introduce to your environment, please read all labels and instructions

Pyrethrum Nature’s Insecticide – Home and Garden

Pyrethrum products are available in a variety of product types for use in or around the home and garden.

But, today we’re not taking about sprays. Just the plants from which the repellant oils and sprays are derived.

• Chrysanthemums – repel a variety of insects, including roaches, fleas and ants.
• Geraniums – repel mosquitoes, among other insects.
• Marigolds  – repel mosquitoes and aphids.
• Petunias  – repel beetles, aphids and squash bugs.

 

The beauty of using flowers to be bug free is that they add color and “warmth” to your home. More so than three cans of bug spray on the kitchen or bathroom counter. And they are portable. Move them from the dining room to picnic table when dining outside.

Naturally if you’re suffering from an infestation, you’ll need to seek out a professional exterminator, but if it’s just a situation that the OC summer heat has driven unwanted creeping, wriggling, flying “guests” inside, consider a bouquet of Chrysanthemums, Geraniums, Marigolds or Petunias.

 

And don’t forget to call OC Junk Hauling. Why?

• Family Owned and Operated
• Fully Insured
• Competitive Prices
• Uniformed Professionals
• Eco-Responsible
• Same Day Service
• Open 7 Days a Week

 

We are a bouquet of services. Call us at 949-424-9265.