Hi, I’m Dave Fox. Most people know Foxy Gardens for lawn mowing, mulch and garden work around Cambridge, which my son Rob and I have been doing since 2010. But just about every yard job we’ve ever done ends the same way: “While you’re here… could you take this old stuff to the dump?”
So now I’m making it official. Foxy Gardens does junk removal and dump runs in Cambridge, Ontario, all year round, including winter when the gardens are asleep and the basements are full.
I’m not a franchise, there’s no call centre, and you won’t see a fleet of shiny trucks. I’m a gardener with a truck and a strong back who shows up, loads carefully, and makes a lot of trips to the Cambridge Waste Management Centre on Savage Drive. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s a nice facility. No kidding.
What I Haul Away
If you can point at it and it isn’t hazardous, there’s a good chance I’ll take it:
- Furniture removal: couches, recliners, mattresses, box springs, dressers, bed frames and that pull-out sofa nobody has opened since 2009
- Basement cleanouts: boxes, old shelving, broken exercise equipment, carpet scraps and the mystery pile by the furnace
- Garage and shed cleanouts: old tools, broken lawn mowers, bikes, scrap wood and odds and ends
- Yard waste and outdoor junk: brush, branches, old fencing, broken patio sets and planters (this is my home turf)
- Small reno leftovers: old cabinets, trim, flooring and drywall scraps from a DIY project
- Moving leftovers: everything that didn’t make it onto the moving truck
- Appliances: fridges, freezers, stoves, washers and dryers
- Estate and downsizing cleanouts: helping families clear out a parent’s home, with patience and respect
Not sure if something counts? Text me a photo. That’s the fastest way to get an answer.
Flat-Rate Junk Removal Pricing
I don’t weigh your stuff and I don’t charge by the ounce. I price by how much of my truck it fills, and the price includes loading, hauling, gas and dump fees.
- Single item: $65
- Each extra item on the same trip: $20
- Quarter truck load: $95
- Half truck load: $130
- Full truck load: $175
- Each additional load: $150
- Fridges, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers: add $15 each (for refrigerant disposal)
Soil, concrete, shingles, bricks and other heavy materials are quoted separately, since a little bit of that stuff weighs a lot.
Cash or e-transfer, no tax added. You pay the local guy who carried your couch down the stairs, and that’s the whole transaction.
Why the Flat Rate Is Fair (for Both of Us)
People sometimes think a dump run is just a quick drive. Here’s what actually goes into one:
The dump isn’t free. The Region of Waterloo charges a minimum of $15 on every load at the Cambridge site, plus more for heavier loads. Since it’s your stuff heading out, that fee is built into your price, so there are no surprise charges at the end.
Gas, there and back. Every trip to Savage Drive and back takes fuel, and bigger jobs mean multiple trips. That’s included too.
My truck is a regular-sized truck, and I load it safely. Everything gets tied down, nothing hangs off the back and nothing flies onto the 401. I won’t cram the truck to save a trip, because it isn’t worth an accident or somebody’s windshield. Bigger jobs may take a couple of loads, and I’ll tell you how many I expect before we start.
Sorting keeps costs down. The dump charges less for recyclables, scrap metal and yard waste than for garbage, but a mixed load gets billed at the garbage rate. So I keep things separated whenever it makes sense, and that helps keep my prices low.
If It’s Still Good, It Doesn’t Go to the Dump
I’m not going to throw a perfectly good bicycle into the crusher. Working bikes, solid wood furniture, decent tools and usable household stuff deserve a second life. They might get donated, sold, or passed along to someone who can use them.
It keeps stuff out of the landfill, and when your load has a lot of reusable things in it, I’ll often take a bit off your price.
Just know that once it’s on my truck, it’s gone. Pull out anything you want to keep before I arrive.
Not Sure What to Keep? I Can Help with That Too
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t hauling the junk. It’s deciding what is junk. If you’re staring at a full basement or a parent’s house and don’t know where to start, I also offer hands-on decluttering help in Cambridge. We’ll sort keep, donate and toss piles together, and I’ll haul away whatever’s leaving the same day.
Serving Galt, Preston, Hespeler and All of Cambridge
I’ve been driving these streets for over 15 years. I know the old stone houses in Galt with narrow basement stairs, the Preston bungalows with packed single-car garages, and the newer builds in Hespeler and East Galt where the garage somehow fills up in three years flat.
I offer junk removal and dump runs throughout:
- Galt and downtown Cambridge
- Preston
- Hespeler
- Blair, Fiddlesfield, Branchton Park and surrounding neighbourhoods
- Kitchener, Waterloo and North Dumfries
The Region’s dump only accepts waste from within Waterloo Region, so I can’t take loads from outside it.
Why Hire a Local Gardener for Junk Removal?
I’m careful. I’ve spent 15 years walking across people’s lawns without trampling the hostas. I’ll treat your hallways, door frames and floors the same way.
I’m upfront. You get a flat rate with dump fees and gas included, and you know the total before I lift a thing.
I’m local. I live here, and my business runs on word of mouth.
I’m around in winter. Lawn season is over, so I have time. Winter is a great time to finally tackle the basement or garage.
You deal with me. When you call or text, it’s probably Dave on the other end, not a dispatcher or an app.
What I Don’t Take
- Propane tanks, gas cans, chemicals, pesticides and old paint (the Region has household hazardous waste drop-off for these)
- Anything with asbestos or other hazardous materials
- Pianos and anything else that needs special equipment or a crew (I know my limits)
How It Works
- Call or text (519) 208-8680 with your name, what needs to go and roughly when. Photos help a lot.
- I’ll give you a flat price, plus how many loads I expect.
- I show up, load it, haul it and sweep up after myself.
- You pay cash or e-transfer. Done. Your garage is a garage again.
Junk Removal in Cambridge FAQs
How much does junk removal cost in Cambridge?
My prices start at $65 for a single item, and a full truck load is $175. Gas and dump fees are included, and no tax is added. Send me a photo and I’ll tell you which size your job falls into.
Do you do same-day or next-day pickup?
Often, yes, especially in the off-season. Text me and I’ll tell you what’s possible.
Can you help me sort things before hauling them away?
Absolutely. Check out my decluttering service, or just mention it when you book.
Do I need to be home?
Not always. If the items are outside or in an open garage, we can work something out, and you can e-transfer when it’s done.
Ready to Clear It Out?
Whether it’s one old mattress or a whole basement full of memories, I’d be glad to help. Foxy Gardens has been looking after Cambridge properties since 2010, and now we’re helping clear them out too.
Call or text Dave: (519) 208-8680
Leave your name, number, what needs to go and your timeline, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
