El Paso couple sinks their hard-earned into junk franchise
By Dan Lambert |
 What to do about the junk left over from last summer’s garage sale, or the old refrigerator you have to climb around to get to your car?
There’s a new El Paso business eager to carry off your junk – 1-800-Got-Junk. The new local franchise is owned by Elizabeth Corbin, president, and her husband John Corbin, vice president.
“Call 1-800-Got-Junk, and they book the entire process from there,” Elizabeth said. “You’re actually calling the headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. They know from your ZIP code that there’s a local El Paso franchise at your disposal, then it’s merely a matter of determining what and how much you have, then giving you an estimate and setting up a pickup time.”
The company does not take hazardous materials, paints and oils, but will refer clients to businesses that do.
A few days before the pick-up day, they call to verify the address, find out where to park the truck and answer any questions. The company says it makes appointments within a 30-minute window.
Elizabeth said the junk that can be collected is limited to items that two men can carry.
“We don’t do demolition, so we can’t tear down the old shed behind the house. But if it has fallen down and the pieces are a manageable size, we can take care of it,” Elizabeth said.
Prices range from $88 for 1/8 of a load, to $438 for a full load in one of their trucks that has a capacity of 15 square yards. There are special prices for one-off items like stoves and refrigerators.
How did the Corbins get into the business?
“I was always picking up after my kids; so, I figured I knew what I was doing and might as well get paid for it,” Elizabeth said. “Actually, John and I saw a story on CNN about Brian Scudamore, the founder of the business. He started it back in 1989 in Vancouver.”
John has a software engineering service and Elizabeth previously worked as an education specialist at the El Paso Zoo.
The couple learned about the franchise during a one-week seminar in Vancouver. They liked what they saw, and wound up buying a franchise territory for which they paid $16,000.
They operate two trucks, which have 15 yard capacity plus a lift gate and dump bed.
So where does the junk end up?
“We’ll recycle 60 percent of what we collect,” Elizabeth said. Reusable items will end up at charities like Goodwill, St. Vincent DePaul’s and the Battered Women’s Shelter.
“What we can’t recycle will end up at the Clint Landfill, or the dump at Sunland Park. Which one comes down to economics,” she said.
Clint charges $28 per ton, Sunland Park $10.50 per square yard,” she said. Clint is cheaper but Sunland Park is closer, since the business is headquartered at 240 Thunderbird on the Westside.
The territory the Corbins bought purchased with their franchise goes east to Lee Trevino, and on the Northeast side up to the New Mexico state line.
In six months they hope to extend their Eastside territory to Horizon City.
You can get one of the brightly colored 1-800-Got-Junk trucks to show up at your place by calling 1-800-468-5865, or you can book online at1800gotjunk.com.
Send comments to wwpolk@elpasoinc.com
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