Junk removal in Minnesota

The Twin Cities are one metro and two quite different working problems. Minneapolis is offices downsizing, garages reclaimed in spring and estates cleared through the winter. St. Paul's older housing stock comes with back staircases and deep basements, which turns a modest volume into a long carry — the thing that separates two jobs of identical size here is almost never how much there is.

For four months of the year a frozen driveway and an unploughed alley are the working conditions rather than an excuse, and jobs are planned around them. Sorting happens at the property as we load — donation, recycling and disposal separated there rather than at the gate — and electronics go to a certified recycler either way.

Spring is the busiest fortnight of the year in both cities — the first week the alleys are clear, every garage in the Twin Cities wants emptying at once. Booking a week or two ahead of the thaw is the difference between a slot you chose and a slot you were given.

Minnesota keeps more out of its landfills by law than most states, and that shows up on the bill rather than in the truck: appliances, electronics, mattresses and anything with a compressor each go to their own facility and each carry their own gate fee. It is worth listing those separately when you describe a load — four appliances and a sofa is not the same job as five pieces of furniture, even though from the driveway it looks like it.