In late 2008, friends Ian Rebello and David Rodgers established Green Junk Machine to give people a green alternative to organize and de-clutter their lives.
The company is San Diego County's eco-friendly junk removal service. In its first year, Green Junk Machine hauled off more than 500 tons of unwanted junk from households and businesses.
The company recycles more than 60 percent of the unwanted items collected, and a portion of each job is donated to I Love a Clean San Diego. The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Rebello to learn more about Green Junk Machine and its efforts to protect the environment.
CBJ: What services does Green Junk Machine offer?
Rebello: We send uniformed crew members into your residential or commercial properties to remove unwanted items. When complete, we provide a thorough sweeping of the area. We pick up any unwanted items, including furniture, clothing, construction debris, trash and etc. as long as it is not hazardous, like paint and chemicals are. Our licensed, insured, professional crew members also can provide miscellaneous labor services around your residence or business. Even if you have no junk to be removed, we can still send a crew out to help with labor.
CBJ: What do you do with the junk you collect?
Rebello: We recycle and donate what we can. We have partnerships and accounts with different organizations throughout San Diego County, including local charities, nonprofit organizations, recycling facilities and transfer stations, to ensure that much of the unwanted junk from households and businesses is diverted from our landfills.
CBJ: What is your company's mission?
Rebello: To become the nation's largest eco-friendly junk removal service, maintain a recycling rate of at least 60 percent and continue to donate a portion of our revenue to local organizations, like I Love a Clean San Diego, to help keep the world clean.
CBJ: How did you become involved in the sustainability movement?
Rebello: I was introduced to it through my girlfriend. She was constantly asking me to make sure I recycle this and that, and I started to do research on the effects of improper disposal of items. I was blown away by the things I read and decided that I would create a business that would promote green practices.
CBJ: What green practices do you incorporate into your life?
Rebello: Of course, I recycle literally everything. But realizing the impact we have on our environment has changed every part of my lifestyle from the car I drive to the products I buy to the way I dispose of my trash and even to the foods I eat. I pay attention to the way every company and business operates and will become a customer of any one that promotes earth friendly ideas and practices. The green movement has become more a part of my life than an actual practice.
CBJ: What is unique about your company?
Rebello: We're on a mission to change the way people think about junk removal and the disposal industry as a whole. Most other junk removal services don't have any focus on protecting the environment, which is why most of your items will end up in a local landfill. We are here to offer the most exceptional quality of customer service and clean-cut, uniformed drivers. We plan to incorporate more eco-friendly practices as we continue to grow and expand into other areas.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of Green Junk Machine?
Rebello: Every person in America will be able to pick up the phone, call Green Junk Machine to remove any unwanted items at their residence or place of business and know that their helping protect our environment. We will be removing junk in every metro area across the country.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Rebello: Green Junk Machine is currently looking for companies to help us facilitate free public e-waste events for people in the community. We need a business with a good amount of parking space to hold the event. We will handle all of the collection and recycling.
Green Junk Machine:
11956 Bernardo Plaza Drive, Ste. 202, San Diego
1-888-722-5865
www.greenjunkmachine.com
The company is San Diego County's eco-friendly junk removal service. In its first year, Green Junk Machine hauled off more than 500 tons of unwanted junk from households and businesses.
The company recycles more than 60 percent of the unwanted items collected, and a portion of each job is donated to I Love a Clean San Diego. The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Rebello to learn more about Green Junk Machine and its efforts to protect the environment.
CBJ: What services does Green Junk Machine offer?
Rebello: We send uniformed crew members into your residential or commercial properties to remove unwanted items. When complete, we provide a thorough sweeping of the area. We pick up any unwanted items, including furniture, clothing, construction debris, trash and etc. as long as it is not hazardous, like paint and chemicals are. Our licensed, insured, professional crew members also can provide miscellaneous labor services around your residence or business. Even if you have no junk to be removed, we can still send a crew out to help with labor.
CBJ: What do you do with the junk you collect?
Rebello: We recycle and donate what we can. We have partnerships and accounts with different organizations throughout San Diego County, including local charities, nonprofit organizations, recycling facilities and transfer stations, to ensure that much of the unwanted junk from households and businesses is diverted from our landfills.
CBJ: What is your company's mission?
Rebello: To become the nation's largest eco-friendly junk removal service, maintain a recycling rate of at least 60 percent and continue to donate a portion of our revenue to local organizations, like I Love a Clean San Diego, to help keep the world clean.
CBJ: How did you become involved in the sustainability movement?
Rebello: I was introduced to it through my girlfriend. She was constantly asking me to make sure I recycle this and that, and I started to do research on the effects of improper disposal of items. I was blown away by the things I read and decided that I would create a business that would promote green practices.
CBJ: What green practices do you incorporate into your life?
Rebello: Of course, I recycle literally everything. But realizing the impact we have on our environment has changed every part of my lifestyle from the car I drive to the products I buy to the way I dispose of my trash and even to the foods I eat. I pay attention to the way every company and business operates and will become a customer of any one that promotes earth friendly ideas and practices. The green movement has become more a part of my life than an actual practice.
CBJ: What is unique about your company?
Rebello: We're on a mission to change the way people think about junk removal and the disposal industry as a whole. Most other junk removal services don't have any focus on protecting the environment, which is why most of your items will end up in a local landfill. We are here to offer the most exceptional quality of customer service and clean-cut, uniformed drivers. We plan to incorporate more eco-friendly practices as we continue to grow and expand into other areas.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of Green Junk Machine?
Rebello: Every person in America will be able to pick up the phone, call Green Junk Machine to remove any unwanted items at their residence or place of business and know that their helping protect our environment. We will be removing junk in every metro area across the country.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Rebello: Green Junk Machine is currently looking for companies to help us facilitate free public e-waste events for people in the community. We need a business with a good amount of parking space to hold the event. We will handle all of the collection and recycling.
Green Junk Machine:
11956 Bernardo Plaza Drive, Ste. 202, San Diego
1-888-722-5865
www.greenjunkmachine.com