January Is National Hobby Month

Let Your Hobby Shine With OC Junk Hauling

Hobbies can take up as much or as little time as you wish to put into them. They can also take up more room than you planned. Where do you “do your thing” in your home? Roll out and then remove from the kitchen table? On top of some boxes in the garage next to an old lawnmower? A heavy box that slides out from under the bed?

According to a 2016 “Ask Your Target Market” survey “56% of respondents said that they have multiple hobbies. 24% said they just have one real hobby that they practice or participate in regularly.” If 80% of people in a random survey indicate involvement with a hobby, that’s a fairly serious indicator that hobbies are an important aspect of non-work life and deserving of designated spaces in your home.

And when you talk about designated craft-oriented spaces in your home, OC Junk Hauling suggests you look no further than Martha Stewart for tips!

How to Design the Ultimate Craft Room

“Every avid crafter needs a space that allows their creativity to flow free,” explains Martha. In a 12-step slide show that you should check out, she offers tips that apply specifically to crafts, but generally also can meet the needs of other hobbies, from collecting thimbles to fishing.

For example, let’s say that after all is said and done, you just can’t turn an entire room into hobby central. What about a corner? You know, the corner with THAT plant which has seen better days, or an ugly lamp you never liked? What can you fit into a corner of a living room, laundry room or garage? Check out slide #3 where Martha suggests a corner desk.It is a piece of furniture designed to slot into that 90-degree angle (also known as an “L desk”).

Put a cabinet hutch on top, as she suggests in slide #10.Now you have plenty of places to store & locate glue, catalogs, stamp folders, thimbles, fishing lures, trading cards, etc.

Other Suggestions

We mentioned the garage earlier. If you are working in a tight space between boxes, glue a magnetic strip to the wall.Then strategically hang scissors or any other metal tool your hobby requires. Nothing magnetic?Then go with a piece of Peg-Board and hooks!

OC Junk Hauling can help you with your corner of the hobby world. When you’re ready to bring in that corner desk, we are just a phone call away (949)424-9265 to remove the plant, ugly lamp, old lawn mower and whatever else that is getting in the way of your creative expression. In fact, you can book your appointment in under a minute and we offer same day junk removal.

Taking Care of Household Hazardous Waste in OC Homes

What You Need To Know About Household Hazardous Waste Removal in Orange County

Hazardous waste is not just something faceless experts in hazmat suits deal with at nuclear power plants. The average U.S. household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste per year. As much as 100 pounds can accumulate in the home, often remaining there until the residents move out or do an extensive cleanout.

You would be surprised how many times the OC Junk Hauling crew comes upon a pick-up project at a home or business in Orange County and finds items, such as batteries, paints, grease & rust solvents, oils, rat poisons, and pesticides just lying around. Under certain conditions, these could start fires or even have explosive potential.

This goes without saying, but how many times do you really read the instructions on things like drain cleaner or silver polish? The information is there to protect you on the proper use and storage of these and other chemical-based items. Store in a cool place? Store in a dark place? Store standing up only? Do you need to ventilate the area?

Advice from the EPA

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is charged with overseeing that “all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work.”

To that end, the EPA offers these directions in dealing with Household Hazardous Waste products.

Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. Corroding containers, however, require special handling. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions.

When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable.

Even empty containers of HHW can pose hazards because of the residual chemicals that might remain, so handle them with care also.

Disposal

Don’t pour down the drain. If you take one bit of advice away from this article, refrain from the drain.

Pouring any of these following Household Hazardous Waste items down the drain or toilet, or even into storm sewers, can contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems. Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, so no throwing out with the trash.

Adhesives
Antifreeze
Batteries
Broken thermometers
Cosmetics
Drain Openers
Fuel injection and carburetor cleaners
Fungicides and wood preservatives
Grease and rust solvents
Household polishes and cleaners
Insecticides, herbicides, and rat poisons
Latex and oil-based paints
Lighter fluids
Nail polish and removers
Oven cleaners
Paint thinners and strippers
Used oil and oil filters
Wood and metal cleaners

While OC Junk Hauling does not handle HHW, according to the OC Waste & Recycling website, “Orange County residents can dispose of their Household Hazardous Waste items for FREE at any of the County’s four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. Please note, the OC Hazardous Waste Collection Centers are not permitted to accept waste from businesses, churches, schools, non-profit organizations or government agencies, or from residents outside of Orange County. Additional HHW services may be available through your city. Contact your city’s recycling coordinator to find out other ways to dispose of your HHW items in your community.”

For additional regulations, locations and contact info, go to the County website

Self-dumping of Appliances Is Hazardous to Your Health

Appliance Hauling in Orange County

Upgrading your appliances? Nice. Adds value to your house and can save you money when you switch to state-of-the art, more energy-efficient items. But, what do you do with the old appliances? You can’t just shove a microwave into a compact curbside trash can. You can’t just leave a refrigerator by that curb either— no, really you can’t without at least removing the door. That’s a law.

In fact, there are many local, state and Federal laws involved in dealing with your appliances when they leave your house to go out into the community. Hazardous components (Freon, foams, etc.) could affect the environment.

That is where OC Junk Hauling comes into the picture. Let us not only haul away your unwanted appliances but also navigate the regulatory roadway to environmentally dispose of/or recycle these items.

Let’s look at an appliance list

Air Conditioners
Clothes Dryers
De-humidifiers
Dishwashers
Freezers
Humidifiers
Microwaves
Refrigerators
Stoves
Washing Machines
Water Heaters
Trash Compactors

The first step is to unplug the items. Thank you. OC Junk Hauling will do the rest. Easy?

EPA, PCB, ODS, GHG and the OC

Now, if you plan to get rid of any of these items yourself, for example taking to a junk yard or landfill, (most standard garbage collecting operations will not collect/transport these items) there is more you would need to do.

Manually dismantle each appliance, which specifically involves removing the hazardous components. That’s all?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal law requires that all refrigerants be recovered prior to dismantling or disposal and that universal waste—including mercury—as well as used oil and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) be properly managed and stored.

Otherwise you are guilty (criminally where part of health & safety codes) of releasing PCBs, mercury, and used oils into the environment! Ouch!

For example, that old refrigerator which may look tired on the outside and not cool as well as it used to, is still filled with refrigerants and insulating foams which can emit ozone depleting substances (ODS) and greenhouse gases (GHG).

Specifically, if you have a pre-1990 model, it will usually contain an earlier version of Freon called R-12. This has since been found to be quite toxic and depletes the ozone layer. Modern-day Freon (also known as tetrafluoromethane) comes without ozone depleting substances.

But— and this is important to remember and why OC Junk Hauling stresses letting us do this work for you— that old Freon, the new Freon, and the anytime mercury, etc., are also powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs)! All of those chemicals contribute to negative climate change when sent into the atmosphere.

Environmentally safe removal and recycling begins & ends when you contact us for a free estimate. Just e-mail at info@ocjunkhauling.com. Or give us a call at 949-424-9265.

We offer same-day appointments and can work around most schedules.

Our uniformed professionals will visit your location to provide a speedy, affordable and fair quote. No obligation. If you are satisfied, we can immediately load and haul away your items or schedule a more convenient time for you.

OC Junk Hauling is a family owned & operated business based in Orange County, CA.

Brea from Wildcatting to Cultural Center in 100 Years

Junk Removal And Junk Hauling In Brea

Orange County is made up of many communities to which our OC Junk Hauling trucks make regular visits to pick up old or unwanted items. We are a familiar sight. One city in particular on our routes that we’d like to single out is Brea, which has been celebrating its Centennial all year long.

According to the City of Brea website: “On February 23, 1917, Brea’s founding families incorporated a small wildcatting oil town and put the City of Brea on the map. Since then, Brea has grown into a vibrant business, recreation and cultural center boasting housing and services for a diverse community. Now it’s time to celebrate the 100-year journey that created one of Orange County’s premier cities!”

To learn more about Brea’s history check out this link http://www.ci.brea.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/3329

Happy Birthday Brea from OC Junk Hauling!

Back in May, there was a Centennial Parade down Birch Street and a Centennial Picnic in the Sports Park. Coming up Oct. 21st will be the Centennial Gala which will feature an evening of dinner, dancing, and entertainment on the Plaza at the spectacular Brea Civic & Cultural Center. As a locally owned and operated family business, OC Junk Hauling takes pride in serving the needs of our diverse customer base in Brea.

Services We Offer in Brea

Aggressive Recycling Program

To that end we donate/recycle/reuse approximately 85% of the materials we remove from homes and businesses in Brea. We are enthusiastic about recycling because it helps us provide our clients with the best prices and at the same time we can keep Orange County clean & beautiful. Last year. This year. Next year. For the next 100 years!

Once you’ve decided what needs to go and you’re satisfied with the OC Junk Hauling free no- obligation estimate, just sit back while our professional crew gets the job done! We do ALL the labor and loading, no matter where your items are located and we clean up afterward, too!

Call us anytime at (949)424-9265 seven days a week! We are ready to serve your junk hauling needs, big or small in Brea and other Orange County communities.