Get rid of junk, clutter and other unwanted stuff at local collections
The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, the flowers are blooming, and it’s time for spring cleaning. One of the toughest tidying tasks is ditching your unwanted junk, but if you know the whens, wheres, and hows of getting the job done, it isn’t so daunting.
What you do with your unwanted junk depends on where you live. Everyday trash can be put in a can and hauled off, but bulky items, electronics, tires, and some nasty chemicals require more planning and attention for safe disposal.
COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENTS
Burnet and Llano counties and the city of Granite Shoals all hold large-scale collections in the spring. Those living in a city have the added bonus of bulk trash pickup days. Contact your city hall for details.
Granite Shoals citywide cleanup day
April 5 from 8 a.m. to noon (or until full)
2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road near City Hall
The city of Granite Shoals hosts a community cleanup day every year, letting residents dispose of landscaping debris, furniture, appliances (no refrigerators or air conditioners), mattresses, toilets, sinks, scrap metal, water heaters, and rimless tires.
Do not bring construction waste, batteries, rocks, dirt, dangerous chemicals, or any commercial garbage. Wholesome homeowner use only.
Llano County limited bulk collection
April 12 from 8 a.m. to noon (or until full)
2100 Roslea in Buchanan Dam
An old mattress, couch, chair, or dresser can be hard to get rid of, but Llano County has you covered. This limited bulk collection event is a once-a-year opportunity to toss large furniture, mattresses, scrap metal, and tires.
The collection is only open to residents of Llano County and customers of the Kingsland Municipal Utility District or Kingsland Water Supply Corp. No regular household trash or appliances will be accepted.
Burnet County BOPATE
April 26 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
2411 FM 963, 2 miles east of U.S. 281
BOPATE stands for batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, tires, and electronics, all of which can have detrimental environmental impacts if not disposed of properly.
Only Burnet County residents are eligible to bring their junk to this event, which takes place once a year. A hazardous chemical disposal event will be held in October on a yet-to-be-determined date to help residents throw away especially virulent household chemicals.
HAUL IT OFF
Dump junk anytime by renting a roll-off dumpster or hiring a local hauling service. Roll-off dumpsters are dropped off at your location for you to fill. The provider then hauls it away.
Some companies specialize in junk removal, offering dumpster rentals and home and hoarding cleanouts.
Ignacio “Nacho” Loza III owns and operates Dash Away Hauling, a Spicewood-based junk removal company, with wife Annie. He has some good advice for those embarking on a home cleanout.
“You have to ask yourself, ‘Is this really of value to me?’” he said. “I think that is the very first step in getting the snowball rolling. The one thing that I think a lot of people have trouble with is letting go of things.”
The husband-and-wife duo, who publishes their own blog, recommends dividing your belongings into the following three categories to make things easier as you spruce up for spring:
- Keep items you love, use regularly, and need.
- Donate gently used clothes, furniture, or household items.
- Dispose of broken furniture, old appliances, shoddy electronics, and unwanted bulk items.
For more tips on junk removal or to work with Dash Away, visit DashAwayHauling.com or call 512-434-3929.
DONATE WHAT YOU CAN
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, said somebody somewhere a long time ago. That still applies today. Clothes, functioning appliances, tools, furniture, building materials, and more could be eligible for donation.
The following is not a complete list of donation hubs, but these are three tried-and-true locations where you can deposit some of your useful but no longer wanted items.
Burnet Library Thrift Store
105 W. Pecan St. in Burnet
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; donations hours 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday
The Friends of the Herman Brown Free Library group operates a thrift store that sells gently used clothing, jewelry, furniture, household goods, furniture, and more (no mattresses or bed frames). All proceeds benefit the Burnet library.
Good Neighbor Thrift Store
9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 9 am.-4 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, donations only
502 RR 1431 in Marble Falls
Proceeds benefit the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, which helps individuals escape domestic and sexual abuse. Accepts gently worn clothes and any household goods (nothing broken). Will also accept all but king-size mattresses. (Mattresses are not resold but used to rehouse clients.)
Marble Falls Library Thrift Store
300 Avenue J in Marble Falls
Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
830-693-5120
The Marble Falls Library Thrift Store will take almost anything, from gently used clothes to kitchenware. Your donations support the Friends of the Marble Falls Library, which provides massive support to the city’s beloved book stop. The thrift store does not accept mattresses or any sort of safety equipment, like car seats and bicycle helmets.
The Warehouse
800 Industrial Blvd. in Marble Falls
Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Monday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
325-423-3662
The Warehouse is an extension of the Highland Lakes Crisis Network, which supports people in need across Burnet and Llano counties. Donations of clothing, furniture, appliances, and more can be made at the store’s location. The Warehouse also offers pickup for large donations, which can be coordinated by calling 325-423-3662.