Junk Removal Blog

Junk King Pittsburgh Uses New Mini Dumpster to Help Make Way for a Cleaner and Greener Tomorrow

Long known as both the City of Steel for its more than 300 steel-related business and the City of Bridges for its 446 bridges, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a city rich in history, high education and boats a great love of sports. The city is situated where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to become the Ohio River.

Economic History

Dubbed the Gateway to the West for its early days as a frontier village, Pittsburgh has always been a city abundant in natural resources like timber, limestone, natural gas, iron and coal. Those plentiful natural resources and the American Revolution made for the perfect formula to spur Pittsburgh into its first economic boom. The Whiskey Rebellion, the American Civil War, its Underground Railroad stops, and, in 1852, the arrival of the Pennsylvania Railroad all hastened this boom and the city’s developments.

Pittsburgh was home to some of the 19th century’s wealthiest and most influential industrialists. H.J. Heinz, George Westinghouse, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas and Andrew Mellon, Henry Clay Frick and Philander Knox all called Pittsburgh home as they worked to become some of the most recognizable names in business, finance and industry.

The 1970’s and early 1980’s lead to a decline and collapse of the steel industry in Pittsburgh. Manufactures of steel overseas offered newer technologies, lower labor costs and government-corporate partnerships which all made for a lower demand for Pittsburgh’s highest commodity. The recession of the ‘80’s made for a difficult time in Pittsburgh but the city proved its position as a come-back-kid and sought new ways for economic growth and recovery.

According to an article in the New York Times, Pittsburgh has turned its sights to building a community around healthcare, financial services, education and technology.  Forbes rated Pittsburgh No. 94 on its list of Best Places for Business and Careers.

Employment and Education

Pittsburgh is home to many houses of higher education. The most recognized names in education are Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh.

According to Point2homes.com, more than 27-percent of people living in Pittsburgh hold a Bachelor’s degree and more than 22-percent hold a Graduate degree.

Sports

Pittsburgh is distinguished as the home of the six-time Super Bowl Championship Pittsburgh Steelers. Founded in 1833, and originally named the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Steelers is the oldest franchise in the AFC and the team has won and hosted more Super Bowl Championships than any other team. While widely recognized for its accomplished football team, the City of Pittsburgh has deep roots in sports and was host to the first ever professional football game and the first World Series. In addition to the Steelers, Pittsburgh is home to several professional sports teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and the Steel City Yellow Jackets.  In 2009, Sporting News gave Pittsburgh the title of “Best Sports City” in the United States.

Philanthropy

Pittsburgh has a long-standing history of giving. With tycoons like the Carnegie, Mellon and Heinz families making giving a priority, philanthropy is still of great importance to its residents. In 2012, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, it is estimated that $1,091,221,000 dollars were given.

Green Living in Pittsburgh

The Steel City has left behind its days of pollution and has been pursuing an environmental transformation as it seeks to build a more sustainable tomorrow. According to the city website, Mayor William Peduto has made sustainability the “driving force of his administration” and is committed to ensuring his efforts come to fruition through the following objectives:

• Improving the internal operations of municipal government, to reduce the fiscal and environmental impact related to our local government’s services

• Fostering innovative and collaborative solutions that overcome barriers to ecological responsible behavior

• Ensuring that the City that provides clean air, water and livable communities for our residents and businesses

• Being a leader locally, nationally and globally in the collective effort to reduce the impacts of climate change while growing our local economy

• Encouraging economic opportunities for all communities

Working to improve life in Pittsburgh while lessening the impact on the environment has led the City of Pittsburgh to form the Office of Sustainability and the City Sustainability Committee whose purposes are to create and guide the sustainability initiatives of the city.

According to Pittsburgh Green Story, when residents were asked about climate change:

·       64% of Pittsburghers described climate change as a severe or moderate problem

·       Fewer than 19% didn’t believe it is a problem

Recycling and Waste Reduction in Pittsburgh

Green initiatives have gone far in transforming this once industrial city to what it is today. Recycling is mandatory in the city of Pittsburgh for every resident, business and institution per City Code 619.

Did you know?

·      According to the city website, for every ton of waste recycled – rather than paying a landfill fee of about $20 to $30 per ton – the City profits $25 per ton and gains as much as an additional $40 per ton while selling recycled material.

Pittsburgh Landfill Solutions

The City of Pittsburgh enforces recycling and encourages reuse of items to help prevent the amount of garbage and build up that finds its way into landfills thus creating greenhouse emissions and water contamination.

According to Pareportcard.org, Pennsylvania has 46 active landfills and six resource-recovery (waste-to- energy) facilities. While the city of Pittsburgh seeks other ways to rid garbage, the city does still have two active landfills.

How Junk King Fits into Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Plan

Junk King Pittsburgh is working towards the same goal of sustainability be it through commercial or residential cleanouts. With the same goals in mind and the importance of recycling and sustainability at the top of the priority list, Junk King is fully equipped to help the city of Pittsburgh in establishing its goals. Junk King roll away dumpsters are taken to a recycling warehouse where employees take the time to sort each and every dumpster rental collection for metals, e-waste, paper, household goods, textiles, furniture and appliances before simply tossing more trash into the landfills. Junk King also strives to “go green” by working to donate, repurpose, and reuse everything from clothing, toys, baby cribs and strollers to office furniture and supplies. Junk is proud to run many of its trucks on biodiesel, a domestically produced fuel made from more environmentally safe non-petroleum, renewable resources. We are committed to continuing to lead the way to help keep the planet clean, green and beautiful for the generations to come. Just as Pittsburgh is striving for, Junk King is also committed to finding ways to reduce waste and encourage recycling and reuse of any qualifying products.

How to Rent a Junk King MINI Dumpster

MINI dumpster rentals offer customers a convenient and affordable way to remove trash, debris and junk from your home or business. Junk King Pittsburgh removes the hassle and worry that comes about when considering large recycling efforts. Junk King Pittsburgh provides quick and easy access to free quotes by phone or an online estimator and fast, affordable service? Simply choose a date and time to schedule your dumpster rental and contact Junk King for a quick estimate and your junk will be rolled away. With the Junk King MINI Dumpster, you are given three days to fill it on your own timetable before it is hauled away. The MINI Dumpster an easy, fast, purposeful way to remove your junk and debris.

Junk King Pittsburgh is the committed to top rated customer service and to furthering its mission of recycle-based junk removal through its dumpster rentals. With a city and government leadership so focused on sustainability, Junk King provides a necessary service to help reduce the growth of waste and increase reuse, recycling and donations of what we consider junk.

FAQ on Dumpster Rentals in Pittsburgh:

1)    How much will a Junk King Dumpster hold?

a.     Junk King Pittsburgh offers customers its convenient MINI Dumpster, a 12-cubic yard, driveway friendly debris box. Most household remodels and clean outs can be fit with a Junk King MINI.

2)    What will you take?

a.     If it isn’t hazardous waste, consider it gone! Furniture, appliances, textiles, construction debris, yard debris and more.

3)     How much does it cost?

a.     Junk King Pittsburgh offers fair, flexible pricing for its customers. With Junk King, we only charge you for the space you use.

4)     How long do I have to complete my project?

a.     After your date and time are schedule, Junk King will bring a MINI dumpster for you to fill at your convenience over a three-day period.

Recent Reviews of Junk King Pittsburgh

Junk King Pittsburgh is committed to creating a more sustainable future and is ready to partner with the city of Pittsburgh and its businesses, institutions and residents in its efforts. Junk King Pittsburgh takes great pride in the reviews we receive. Our customers serve as a reminder of the difference we make in people’s lives and in the community, as well as how we can better improve our services.

 July 18, 2017 by C.V.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Very friendly, prompt and neat.”

July 10, 2017 by C.A.P.W.

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

“Prompt response to my inquiry, On Time for appointment, Fee cost within my expectation, appropriate number of Men and Trucks for the job, prepared to take the junk immediately, continued to work through a rainstorm, and did an excellent and unexpected sweep-up of miscellaneous debris after loading. 100% Satisfaction!”

July 19, 2017 by C.M.

Zelienople, Pennsylvania

“We were impressed with the crew from the professionalism during the estimate, to the efficiency and completeness of the clean-up and the accuracy of the estimate.”

July 17, 2017 by Jane Sorcan

Carnegie, Pennsylvania

“Junk King was easy to schedule, came on time and the driver called ahead to give me heads up they were on their way. They honored the quote they gave me over the phone. The guys were very professional and friendly. They quickly loaded and were on their way. My driveway clean and free of trash after they were done.”

Is recycling, reuse and waste reduction on your priority list? Junk King Pittsburgh is ready to assist you with your unwanted junk removal while keeping those same goals in mind. If you are ready to experience top-rated customer service please consider using Junk King for your dumpster rental and junk removal. Call today (412) 254-8437 or visit Junk King online to get a quick and easy quote for dumpster rentals or for more information on what size dumpster would best suit your needs.

Pittsburgh is one of Pennsylvania’s larger cities, so keeping it clean and tidy is a concern for residents. Proper waste disposal ranks highly on the list of concerns for many Pittsburgh locals, so it’s no wonder that many of them consider dumpster rental when working on their homes, renovating their businesses, or planning special events. However, proper waste disposal is often a more complicated task than many people in Pittsburgh realize, and it isn’t necessarily as simple as just renting a dumpster. You’ll need to follow several official protocols if you want to rent a dumpster in Pittsburgh legally and responsibly.

One of the most common questions Pittsburgh residents have when considering dumpster rentals is whether they will need to obtain a permit first. Answering this question is more complicated than providing a simple “yes” or “no” answer, so before you make plans to rent dumpsters in Pittsburgh you should familiarize yourself with some of the regulations that govern them. Such knowledge can ensure that you follow the correct steps before renting a dumpster in the city, and avoid any penalties for breaking the rules.

Why should I get a Permit for Dumpster Rental in Pittsburgh?

The first thing you should know about getting a permit for a dumpster rental in Pittsburgh is whether you need one. Many people assume that this simple question will have a simple answer, but the truth is more complicated than many of them realize. The conditions for dumpster rentals in Pittsburgh change depending on a specific criterion, which can be measured to determine whether you will require a permit.

The most important factor in determining whether you’ll need a permit is the location where you plan to place the dumpster itself. According to the city, you will require a permit from the municipal Department of Public Works before any dumpster, barricade, piece of material scaffolding or any other equipment can block a public right-of-way. If that definition seems confusing to you, don’t worry—you probably aren’t alone. That’s why it’s important to understand what a right-of-way is and whether the term applies to the area where you’re thinking about renting a dumpster.

Right-of-way (or ROW) is technically a term used to describe a given individual’s ability to move over a piece of land—typically en-route from one destination to another. Colloquially, the term ROW is also used to describe the piece of land in question, especially when the rights to traverse it belong to the public (i.e. a public right-of-way). Typical examples of ROW in cities include roads, bridges, and intersections—infrastructure built by the state and paid for by the public. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with all kinds of ROW if you want to make sure you can rent a dumpster without a permit in the city of Pittsburgh.

The examples given above are far from the only kinds of ROW found in Pittsburgh. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you can rent a dumpster without first acquiring a permit just because you aren’t going to place it in the middle of the street. Public trails and footpaths also count as ROW, and therefore may not be obstructed with a dumpster unless you first obtain a permit.

Rails and key areas for public transport also count as ROW, which probably seems obvious—but there’s an important reason for mentioning it. Remember that the rules governing these facilities also extend to parking lots and other areas that support the main infrastructure, so think twice before renting a dumpster for a lot near any station or track, even if it does not appear to be in use at first glance. The more research you do, the more awareness you’ll have of whether the area you want to rent a dumpster for is considered a ROW by city authorities. Remember also that ROWs can be designated by nearby features that are not visually apparent, like canals and utility lines.

The rule of thumb is to check thoroughly before renting a dumpster for any piece of land that you do not own and know well. For example, if you are renting a dumpster for your backyard during a home renovation project and are confident that the area where you want to place it is nowhere near utility lines that could affect other properties, there is a good chance you can rent the dumpster without getting a permit first. In most other cases though, it is better to at least inquire with the Public Works Permits Office before proceeding without one. They can be reached by phone at (412) 255-2370.

How to Obtain a Permit for a Dumpster Rental in Pittsburgh

The good news is that the city of Pittsburgh has recently implemented several measures aimed at making it easy to secure permits for dumpster rentals. Because permits are so often required, the city has taken steps to modernize the process of obtaining them. These measures include expanding the number of payment options available for permit seekers so that applying for them in person will be a swifter and more convenient task.

Residents of Pittsburgh who wish to apply for dumpster rental permits must visit the Department of Public Works Permit Counter. This office is located at 611 Second Avenue and receives applications over the counter. Applicants will be asked to pay a fee when submitting their application, and wait for approval on the spot. Note that different fees apply depending on the length of time you intend to keep the dumpster in its intended location, and how you will use the dumpster.

Residential applicants will be asked to pay a fee of $25.00 for every week the dumpster is present on a ROW, while commercial applicants have a choice: they can either pay $100.00 per month or $375.00 per year. Due to recent improvements by the city, these fees are now payable via most major credit cards. Please note, however, that the Department of Public Works reserves the right to deny a permit if the placement of the dumpster poses a danger or major inconveniences to the public or important operations in the area. It is crucial that you think about the impact your dumpster may have on the surrounding community before applying if you want to maximize your chances of being approved.

Consequences of Not Acquiring a Permit

There are implications for renting a dumpster or doing work in Pittsburgh without first obtaining the necessary permits. In most cases, you will receive a fine. Since these fines almost always exceed the cost of obtaining a permit by large amounts, it is always a better idea to simply make sure you are following city regulations and apply for the permit you need before renting a dumpster. However, it is important to realize that repeat violations can incur more severe penalties.

Final Thoughts

There is no consistent short answer for whether you will need a permit before pursuing dumpster rental in Pittsburgh. That said though, a permit is required more often than not. If you do not intend to apply for a permit, make sure you research the area you plan to place your rental dumpster extremely carefully before acquiring it. In general, it is safer and smarter to eliminate the risk of a fine or steeper punishments by applying for a permit whenever you are in doubt. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it’s easier to keep your property clean when you follow the correct regulations. For more information on dumpster rentals in Pittsburgh, connect with us here at Junk King.