The Junkluggers take everything and dispose of it in an eco-friendly manner

By Patricia Nugent

Thanks to Marie Kondo and her bestselling book and Netflix series The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, more and more people are recognizing that their physical clutter and junk can lead to unhappiness and stress.

But getting rid of bigger items like old furniture and appliances can be a pain, adding to the stress domino effect. Throw in not knowing which landfill your junk will wind up in and not actually decomposing for thousands of years piles on even more stress.

Enter The Junkluggers.
This eco-friendly junk removal company helps homeowners and businesses get rid of their unneeded stuff and finds ways to repurpose it, recycle it or donate it to local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity.

For owner, Jerry Kotlarsic, acquiring three territories in Northeast Ohio of The Junkluggers National franchise late last year is a labor of love and eco-consciousness.

A few staggering statistics that Jerry brings up:

• Roughly 80% of items buried in landfills could have been recycled.
• The United States is on track to run out of room in landfills by 2036.
• Only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled.

The Junkluggers’ lofty agenda is meant to combat these stats. The company’s goal of eliminating 100% of reusable junk from landfills by 2025 is impressive.

They Take Everything
From attic, basement and garage cleanouts to estate cleanouts and removal of furniture, appliances, piano and e-waste recycling, these guys will take everything off your hands. Jerry says this time of year, they are starting to do exterior work as well, removing things like old swing sets, sheds and even pools and hot tubs.

Pricing is based on volume, and the service is an affordable alternative for anyone thinking about renting a dumpster.

“The sustainability aspect really resonates with our customers and our staff,” says Jerry, who grew up in Highland Heights and now lives in Concord Township. “We all feel like we are part of something bigger. Our luggers are well-trained and treat customers’ property with respect and compassion.”

They can also operate on a labor-only basis if people need things moved rather than taken away. For instance, recently an elderly woman was having her kitchen renovated and needed someone to move all the furniture out of the room.

“We’ve been working with local Realtors, whose clients need to declutter quickly to get their home on the market, as well as partnering with local businesses to host free e-waste events where people can safely get rid of old electronics such as cellphones, computers, laptops and iPads and know they’ll be safely recycled,” says Jerry. (Watch their Facebook page for details on these events.)

Garnering Rave Reviews
Here’s what a few of Jerry’s clients have been saying about their experience with the Junkluggers:

“On time. Very courteous and left no junk behind. I had kind of a special order and they figured it out. I’ve used them twice and will definitely use them again in the future. Ten out of 10, will recommend,” says Mary Lou S.

“Scheduling was easy. They came on time and were able to take everything I pointed out to them. They were very careful with removing all items from the house without damaging any walls. I highly recommend Junkluggers,” says Rita C.

Headquartered in Willoughby, The Junkluggers of Cleveland, Mentor and Solon go to homes and businesses from Cleveland’s west side to Ashtabula, and down to Ravenna. All luggers are bonded and insured. For tax purposes, customers receive a donation receipt for their items within 14 days of the service. Call 1-800-LUG-JUNK or 440-299-8711 or visit JunkluggersOfCle.com for more information.