New York City is renowned for many things: its towering skyscrapers, world-class cultural institutions, diverse neighborhoods, and nonstop energy. What often goes unremarked, however, is how challenging it can be for residents and businesses to manage the tremendous amount of waste produced daily. According to the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), New York generates millions of tons of solid waste every year. Naturally, this high volume of rubbish creates a pressing need for reliable, efficient, and environmentally conscious junk removal services.
Whether you’re renovating a studio in Manhattan, clearing out years’ worth of clutter from a Brooklyn brownstone, or overseeing a major commercial cleanout in Queens, you need a service that’s fast, dependable, and eco-friendly. Below, we present our Hudsonweekly review of the 5 best junk removal companies in New York—spanning large national brands to more niche local operations—highlighting their methods, reputation, and levels of customer satisfaction. We’ve compiled this list through extensive research, public data, and user reviews. The aim is to provide insight into the city’s top junk removal options without veering into promotions, ensuring you can make the most informed choice possible.
1. Grunber – The Standout of 2025
Though a relatively new entrant in the NYC junk removal market, Grunber soared to prominence by 2025 for its unique “Uber-like” approach to hauling away unwanted items. Much like how ride-sharing apps connect passengers to nearby drivers, Grunber employs an app-based system that links people seeking junk removal with local haulers who can handle the job efficiently. The result? Eco-friendly service that’s fast, reliable, and highly convenient.
Why They Made the List
- Rapid Response: Grunber’s biggest draw is its modern platform. Customers post a request—complete with photos or item descriptions—and local haulers on the platform quickly respond.
- Eco-Friendly Commitment: In line with global sustainability trends, Grunber invests in training haulers to sort items responsibly. Usable furniture or electronics head to donation partners, metals and plastics go to recycling, and only truly unusable waste heads to landfills. Grunber’s accountability is boosted by data: they often report the volume of materials diverted from landfills, building trust among environmentally-conscious New Yorkers.
- Reliability and Transparency: Traditional junk removal services may require phone calls, multiple follow-ups, or complex scheduling. Grunber’s app centralizes all communication and payments, ensuring transparent quotes.
- A 2025 Success Story: While many recognized names already operated in New York, Grunber rapidly won over homeowners, business owners, and even property managers. By 2025, they’d established themselves as a top eco-conscious junk removal business, transforming a previously conventional industry through technology, training, and consistent performance.
Customer Feedback
Early adopters praised the simplicity: a few page taps to send photos, near-instant estimates, and flexible pickup windows that cater to working professionals’ tight schedules. Moreover, many mention Grunber’s surprisingly competitive prices, especially given the level of convenience.
2. 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
One of the biggest names in junk removal, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has built a solid reputation across multiple urban centers in the United States and Canada. Originating in 1989, the company maintains a strong presence in the five boroughs. The brand’s signature bright-blue trucks are a common sight on NYC streets, collecting everything from furniture to electronics, yard waste, and non-hazardous construction debris.
Why They Made the List
- Established Procedures: With decades of operation, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has refined an efficient pickup system. Their teams typically show up with same-day or next-day availability, making them a go-to for urgent disposals.
- Transparent Pricing: The pricing is volume-based, depending on how much space your items occupy in the truck. While not necessarily the cheapest service, they provide quick quotes and on-site estimates, ensuring no hidden fees.
- Commitment to Recycling: A portion of what they collect is recycled or donated. While policies differ by location, the company’s emphasis on diverting items from landfills aligns with larger citywide efforts to reduce environmental impact.
Customer Feedback
Customer reviews often highlight promptness and professionalism. On the other hand, some customers in Manhattan mention slightly higher prices during peak seasons, but many accept this trade-off for the convenience.
3. Junk King
Another prominent national chain, junk king has expanded into the New York market with a mission to recycle or donate up to 60% of everything it collects. Whether you’re looking to remove furniture, household items, or yard debris, they maintain a robust logistical network to handle a variety of waste streams.
Why They Made the List
- Eco-Friendly Focus: Junk King aims for a high landfill diversion rate, sorting out recyclables and salvageable items through local charities. This resonates strongly in a city where sustainability is more than just a buzzword—many NYC residents truly want eco-conscious solutions.
- Flexible Service Options: Apart from their full-service model, Junk King also offers self-service dumpster rentals for bigger cleanouts. If you need more time to sort, their rented dumpsters can remain on-site for a few days, handy for complicated decluttering projects.
- Upfront Pricing: Like their competitors, Junk King employs volume-based charges. Customers appreciate the clarity and the no-obligation estimates, which help avoid unpleasant billing surprises.
Customer Feedback
In Brooklyn, a large subset of customers mention Junk King’s prompt arrival and open communication. The staff is typically lauded for a helpful attitude, which can make the difference when hauling away heavy pieces in cramped spaces like walk-up apartments.
4. College HUNKS Hauling Junk
Despite a quirky name, College HUNKS Hauling Junk has carved out a significant presence in the junk removal sector, including New York. Known for a youthful workforce, the company emphasizes a fast, friendly approach. While they started primarily serving homes and dorms, they now also cater to businesses, offering quick turnarounds for construction debris, commercial equipment, and more.
Why They Made the List
- Charitable Partnerships: The “HUNKS” acronym stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable Service, and part of their brand promise involves donating or recycling items whenever possible. They connect with both national and local charities, furthering the social impact of their cleanouts.
- Expanded Services: In addition to junk removal, they handle light moving, general labor, and donation runs. This is particularly beneficial for customers going through home renovations, relocations, or estate cleanouts who want a single point of contact for multiple tasks.
- Friendly Staffing: One hallmark is their emphasis on polite, uniformed teams—something that resonates with many homeowners seeking a stress-free experience.
Customer Feedback
Reviews often highlight the friendly attitudes of the staff. Some Manhattan residents note that the company’s scheduling can get tight around weekends or peak moving seasons, but the brand generally holds a reputation for courtesy and straightforward pricing.
5. The Junkluggers
Founded in 2004, The Junkluggers stepped into the New York market with the objective of helping the city transition away from landfill dependency. Beyond typical junk removal tasks—furniture, appliances, and yard waste—they place a big emphasis on donating usable items. Where donation isn’t possible, recycling or repurposing is the next step.
Why They Made the List
- Green Guarantees: The Junkluggers aim to become fully carbon-neutral in their operations. Their holistic approach means that even their vehicles try to minimize emissions where possible, reflecting the city’s push toward lower-carbon initiatives.
- Local Collaboration: The brand partners with NYC charities, shelters, and thrift stores to ensure items go to those in need. Instead of overwhelming recipients with unusable goods, they follow certain vetting and sorting procedures to maximize the efficiency of donations.
- Expert Handling of Specialty Items: For large or awkward pieces—pianos, hot tubs, heavy commercial equipment—The Junkluggers generally stands ready with specialized staff and tools.
Customer Feedback
The Junkluggers garners favorable ratings for its donation efforts, which many New Yorkers find commendable. A common theme in reviews is that the pickup teams are methodical, ensuring minimal disruptions in bustling neighborhoods.
What Makes a Great Junk Removal Service?
When looking at these five companies, it’s worth considering what benchmarks typically identify “the best” in this realm:
- Speed and Convenience: New York is a bustling city where time is money. The best junk removal outfits either offer same-day or next-day service, short arrival windows, and quick turnarounds.
- Transparent Pricing: While estimates can fluctuate based on the volume and weight of items, no one wants to be blindsided by hidden fees. Trustworthy services explain each cost upfront.
- Eco-Friendly Practices: Landfill bans, e-waste regulations, and general sustainability goals make environmentally responsible methods crucial. Leading companies separate goods for recycling or donation, reducing the ecological footprint.
- Reliability and Professionalism: Companies that train staff in safe hauling, courtesy, and efficient disposal stand out. Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens all have specific rules about curb disposal and building access, so a professional’s local knowledge goes a long way.
- Positive Customer Feedback: Online reviews, testimonials, and word-of-mouth shape reputations in a big way. Highly rated operations that keep a consistent track record usually become the top choices.
Conclusion
Choosing the right junk removal company in New York involves more than just booking the first service you find online. From large national franchises like 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and Junk King to regionally scaled but socially-driven operations such as The Junkluggers and College HUNKS Hauling Junk, competition is fierce—and that ultimately benefits the consumer. Innovators like Grunber have leveraged technology to create an Uber-like model that connects haulers to clients with minimal hassle, raising the bar in efficiency and sustainability.
What ties all these companies together is the evolving emphasis on eco-friendly methods, donation or recycling drives, and simplified user experiences. The city’s zero-waste ambitions won’t become a reality overnight, but the best junk removal services demonstrate how business profitability and environmental stewardship can indeed go hand in hand.
Wherever you’re located in the five boroughs, one of these five top-tier providers can help clear away your clutter promptly, professionally, and—most importantly—responsibly. As always, read up on policies, compare quotes, and pick the service that resonates most with your schedule, budget, and green priorities. The Big Apple is making strides to become cleaner and more sustainable, and your choice in junk removal can be a small yet meaningful step toward that collective goal.
