It's Not Just 'Cost' That's a Problem with Disposing Unwanted Items: Real Worries Heard from 200 Users (Survey by S-Planning)

Disposing of unwanted items is necessary in various life situations, such as moving, major cleaning, replacing items, or cleaning out a family home. When you decide to dispose of something, there are surprisingly many situations where you might hesitate, such as how to carry out large furniture and appliances, how much it will cost, and whether to choose collection or trade-in.

Especially when using a private junk removal service, points of concern include the clarity of the fees, the scope of services, and whether the company is trustworthy. So, what burdens and anxieties do people who have actually used these services feel about disposing of unwanted items?

Therefore, S-Planning LLC, which develops services related to home organization such as junk removal, on-site purchasing, estate cleanup, and hoarder house cleaning, conducted a survey of 200 people who have used a private junk removal service within the past two years. This report organizes the 'real thoughts' of users regarding the disposal of unwanted items, such as the points that tend to be difficult and what is emphasized when choosing a service.

We hope this will be a useful reference for those considering disposing of unwanted items, as well as for businesses providing junk removal and purchasing services, and those involved in disseminating information about lifestyle and organization, to understand the worries and needs of users.

Table of Contents

Q1: Items that are felt to be particularly difficult to dispose of

Q2: Problems and anxieties felt when disposing of unwanted items

Q3: What is prioritized when using a junk removal/purchasing service

Summary: When choosing a junk removal/purchasing service, assess whether you can trust them with the job

Q1. When disposing of unwanted items, what do you find 'particularly difficult to dispose of'? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 1)

Note 1: This question is multiple-choice, but options are limited to three. This is to more clearly identify what is felt to be particularly difficult when disposing of unwanted items.

The most common answer was 'Large furniture (sofas, dressers, bed frames, etc.)' at 64.0% (128 people). Items like sofas, dressers, and bed frames are large, and just carrying them out of a room often requires manpower. Especially in apartment buildings, whether they can fit through doorways, hallways, and elevators can be an issue, suggesting that 'carrying them out before disposal' is a major burden.

Next was 'Large home appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, etc.)' at 61.0% (122 people). Large appliances are not only heavy, but some, like refrigerators, washing machines, and TVs, have different disposal methods than regular bulky waste. Therefore, in addition to the difficulty of transportation, the hassle of confirming 'where to request disposal' and 'how much it will cost' is likely a reason why disposal is felt to be difficult.

'Bedding, futons, and mattresses' also exceeded half at 50.5% (101 people). Even if not as heavy as furniture or appliances, bulky items are difficult to store at home, and finding a place for them until the disposal day can be a problem. Mattresses, in particular, are large and disposal methods may vary by municipality, so they are likely perceived as items that are not easy to dispose of casually.

On the other hand, 'Small home appliances, PCs, and smartphones' was 16.5% (33 people), and 'Documents and items containing personal information' was 15.0% (30 people). These are not items where transport is a major burden like large items, but people tend to feel anxious about data erasure and the handling of personal information. It is thought that not only physical difficulty but also psychological burdens like 'can I dispose of it safely?' contribute to the worries of disposing of unwanted items.

Others included 'Clothing, shoes, and bags' at 8.5% (17 people), 'Books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and game software' and 'Hobby items and collectibles' at 7.5% (15 people) each, and 'Dishes and kitchen utensils' at 6.5% (13 people). Although these are relatively easy to dispose of, if there is a large quantity or sentimental value, it may take time to organize them.

Q2. What problems or anxieties do you have when disposing of unwanted items? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 2)

Note 2: This question is multiple-choice, but options are limited to three. This is to more clearly identify the problems and anxieties felt when disposing of unwanted items.

The most common answer was 'Disposal costs are high/feel like a burden' at 40.0% (80 people). When using a junk removal service, the cost can easily change depending on the item, quantity, and carry-out conditions, so it is thought that 'how much will it cost in the end?' is a source of anxiety. Especially for large furniture and appliances, carry-out fees and recycling fees may be added to the disposal cost, which could be leading to a sense of financial burden.

The next most common was 'Cannot carry it out myself' at 34.0% (68 people). The desired item for disposal is...