A Fredericton Junk Removal Company Making One Person’s Trash Another Person’s Treasure
FREDERICTON — A new Fredericton company is making it easy to give back to the community by getting rid of your stuff.
Integrity Junk Removal was started by self-proclaimed serial entrepreneurs Ryan Grice and Lewis Vandervalk. Through his other business, Vandervalk works with contractors all over the U.S. and Canada. Getting into junk removal was his idea of doing something more local.
“Some people think of junk removal and they don’t necessarily know what that means,” says Vandervalk. “They think, ‘Oh, I don’t have something big enough.’”
Clients call them with whatever they have, whether it’s a shed that needs to be cleaned out or a deck that needs to be torn down. Their website lists commercial cleanups, estate sales, and storage unity clean-ups as some services they provide.
“It’s dirty, hard work and that’s what we are there to do,” said Vandervalk.
For “junk” that can be used again, they partnered with Habitat for Humanity and their Restore.
“The cliche is one man’s trash is another’s treasure, but it is so true and so applicable,” said Vandervalk. “We don’t want anyone taking working appliances or beds or bureaus or dressers to the dump when someone can find continued use out of it.”
When they donate, local shoppers can get essentials for a cheaper cost and the Restore gets money to put into their building initiatives.
“That’s a really cool part and probably my favourite part of this business I have developed, being able to support this community, bring awareness to it,” said Vandervalk.
For every job, Integrity is donating 5 percent to a local charity of the client’s choice. They give clients a list to choose from that includes organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Fredericton Community Kitchens, and Fredericton Homeless Shelter.
“The homeless community personally is a huge passion of mine,” said Vandervalk. “I have a large goal of being able to donate a million dollars to homeless causes here by 2028.”
While Integrity is giving back they are also growing. They have bin rentals and a new truck coming soon.
“We’ve got a couple of people lined up to hire,” said Vandervalk. “The team is a couple now but it will be a couple of trucks and five or six bins next spring and up to four to six employees by the end of next year.”
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Rachel Smith is a summer intern for Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected].