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Eco-Friendly 'Junk King' Turns Trash To Treasure Across Fairfield County

DANBURY, Conn. — They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And Tom McCabe can certainly attest to that.

Entrepreneur Tom McCabe opened Junk King of Tri County  two months ago, challenging himself to find new homes for 65 to 75 percent of all the items his crew picks up.

Entrepreneur Tom McCabe opened Junk King of Tri County two months ago, challenging himself to find new homes for 65 to 75 percent of all the items his crew picks up.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The Patterson, N.Y., resident recently left a career as a sales manager for a large corporation to open Junk King of Tri County. Serving Fairfield, Westchester and Putnam counties. The removal service prides itself on finding new homes for a whopping 65 percent to 75 percent of the castoffs it collects.

“We don’t just go to the dump like everyone else,” said McCabe, who started the franchise two months ago.

And therein lies the challenge. Each day, McCabe’s crew might be clearing a home for loved ones in an estate situation or removing dozens of desks in a company’s office relocation.

McCabe said the Junk King company has the best customer service rating in the industry, showing empathy to families in hoarder situations or when there has been a death of a loved one.

After taking treasured mementos, many families don’t know what to do with a whole lifetime’s worth of belongings.

“They just want it gone and out of their hair,” he said. “And they like knowing it might be reused.”

The entrepreneur said he revels in finding eco-friendly solutions by donating, recycling or repurposing nearly everything that’s picked up.

To that end, McCabe’s bright red Junk King truck trundles back to a warehouse in Danbury, where staffers sort through the wares and get creative.

“It is challenging,” said the native of Ringwood, N.J.

Using online advertising and tag sale sites, Junk King has found new homes for everything from clothing and shoes to bicycles and furniture.

The home of a late senior citizen might offer geriatric items, such as walkers and canes, that McCabe can donate to someone in need. Other items might go to donation centers such as Goodwill, where they can be sold to support a nonprofit’s work.

“Anything that has some life left in it, we will find an outlet for it,” McCabe said.

Junk King is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends, though McCabe said he will try to accommodate customers with unusual hours. Customers can learn more or book online at www.junk-king.com.

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