Warehouse Cleanouts
Moving, downsizing, or just need to clear out years of accumulated boxes and packaging? We handle the entire cleanout — sorting, grading, removing, and recycling everything responsibly.
What We Handle
Our warehouse cleanout service is designed for businesses that need to clear out large volumes of corrugated materials quickly and responsibly. Whether you're closing a facility, relocating, renovating, or simply decluttering years of accumulated boxes, pallets, and packaging — we take care of everything.
Unlike junk removal services that throw everything in a dumpster, we meticulously sort through your materials. Boxes with remaining usable life are graded and entered into our resale inventory. Damaged materials go directly to our recycling partners. Nothing goes to a landfill.
Our Cleanout Process
Free Site Assessment
We visit your facility to assess the volume and types of materials to be removed. We document everything and provide a detailed quote — no hidden fees, no surprises.
Scheduled Cleanout
We work around your schedule. Weekdays, weekends, even overnight if your facility is still operating. Our crew arrives on time with the right equipment for the job.
Sort, Grade & Remove
Our team sorts all materials on-site. Reusable boxes are stacked and loaded for resale. Recyclable materials are baled or bundled. We handle all the labor — your team doesn't need to lift a finger.
Broom-Clean Guarantee
When we leave, your space is clean. We sweep up cardboard dust, remove all debris, and leave the area ready for its next use. We guarantee a broom-clean finish on every job.
Who We Serve
Our cleanout service is trusted by businesses of all sizes across the tri-state area.
Why Not Regular Junk Removal?
Typical Junk Removal
- ✗ Everything goes to a landfill
- ✗ You pay full removal cost
- ✗ No sorting or recycling
- ✗ No expertise in packaging materials
- ✗ Zero environmental benefit
EcoBoxes NY Cleanout
- ✓ Zero landfill — everything reused or recycled
- ✓ You may earn money from resaleable boxes
- ✓ Professional sorting and grading on-site
- ✓ Box & packaging industry specialists
- ✓ Full environmental impact report provided
Timeline Expectations
Every cleanout is different. Here is what to expect based on the size of your facility and the volume of materials to be removed.
| Facility Size | Typical Volume | Crew Size | Vehicles | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 5,000 sq ft) | 50-300 boxes, 0-10 gaylords | 2-3 workers | 1 box truck | 2-4 hours |
| Medium (5,000-20,000 sq ft) | 300-2,000 boxes, 10-50 gaylords | 3-5 workers | 1-2 box trucks or 1 flatbed | 4-8 hours (1 day) |
| Large (20,000-50,000 sq ft) | 2,000-10,000 boxes, 50-200 gaylords | 5-8 workers | 2-3 trucks or 1 tractor-trailer | 1-2 days |
| XL / Multi-Building | 10,000+ boxes, 200+ gaylords, mixed materials | 8-12 workers | Multiple vehicles, staged over days | 2-5 days |
These are typical timelines. Actual duration depends on material accessibility, sorting complexity, and building layout. We provide exact time estimates after the free on-site assessment.
Sample Environmental Impact Report
Every cleanout client receives a detailed environmental impact report. Here is sample data from a recent 15,000 sq ft warehouse cleanout in Brooklyn.
Materials Summary
Environmental Savings
Reports are delivered via email within 48 hours of cleanout completion. PDF format suitable for ESG reporting, LEED documentation, and internal sustainability audits.
The Before & After
Before: What We Typically Find
- ✗Mixed stacks of boxes, gaylords, and loose corrugated piled without organization
- ✗Pallets stacked against walls or blocking access aisles and fire exits
- ✗Shrink wrap, strapping, and packing materials scattered across the floor
- ✗Broken-down boxes mixed with intact, resaleable inventory
- ✗Years of accumulated dust, cardboard fragments, and packaging debris
- ✗Materials stored in areas with water damage, temperature damage, or pest exposure
- ✗No inventory or documentation of what materials are present
After: What We Leave Behind
- ✓Completely empty, cleared floor space ready for new use
- ✓Broom-clean surfaces — no dust, no cardboard fragments, no debris
- ✓All access aisles and fire exits fully cleared and accessible
- ✓Detailed manifest of everything removed, sorted by category and disposition
- ✓Environmental impact report documenting all materials diverted from landfill
- ✓Payment or credit issued for any resaleable boxes identified during sorting
- ✓Photo documentation of the space before and after for your records
Insurance & Liability
Our cleanout crews operate under comprehensive insurance coverage. You bear zero liability for injuries, damage, or incidents that occur during our work on your premises.
General Liability
Covers property damage and bodily injury on your premises. Includes damage to your building, equipment, flooring, loading docks, and other structures.
Workers Compensation
All crew members are covered. You are fully indemnified against any workers compensation claims arising from our work at your facility.
Professional Liability
Covers errors in our sorting, grading, and processing work. If we mistakenly recycle boxes that should have been resold, this policy addresses the value difference.
We carry Certificates of Insurance (COI) on every job and can add your company or landlord as an Additional Insured upon request. Request a COI
Pricing Structure
We offer three pricing models to match different cleanout situations. Your free on-site assessment determines which model provides the best value for your specific job.
Per-Hour Rate
Best for: Small to medium cleanouts, uncertain scope
Billed per crew-hour with a 2-hour minimum. Ideal when the exact volume is hard to estimate or when you want us to sort carefully for maximum buyback value. Rate includes all labor, equipment, and vehicle usage. You only pay for actual time worked.
- All labor and crew
- Vehicle and equipment
- On-site sorting and grading
- Removal and transport
- Broom-clean finish
Flat Rate
Best for: Predictable scope, budget certainty needed
After our free assessment, we quote a fixed price for the entire job — no surprises regardless of how long it takes. The flat rate is locked in before work begins. If we finish faster, you still pay the same. If it takes longer, you still pay the same.
- Guaranteed fixed price
- All labor and equipment
- No overages possible
- Full removal and transport
- Broom-clean guarantee
Per-Pallet / Per-Gaylord
Best for: Large, well-organized facilities
If your materials are already palletized or organized in countable units, per-pallet pricing is often the most cost-effective option. We count units on-site, apply the agreed rate, and deduct any buyback credits. Net cost can be significantly reduced — or even zero — if resaleable material offsets the cleanout fee.
- Simple per-unit math
- Buyback credits applied
- Volume discounts available
- Full removal and transport
- Net-zero cost possible
Not sure which model fits? Our assessment team will recommend the best option after evaluating your facility. Many clients find that buyback credits offset 50-100% of the cleanout cost. Learn about our buyback program
Real Cleanout Case Studies
Brooklyn Fulfillment Center — Lease Expiration
Queens Manufacturer — Facility Upgrade
Manhattan Retail Chain — 4-Store Closeout
Seasonal Considerations
January - March (Post-Holiday)
The busiest cleanout period. Retailers and fulfillment centers clear out holiday packaging surplus. Book 2-3 weeks in advance for January dates. We add extra crews during this period to handle demand.
April - June (Spring Cleanouts)
Warehouse reorganizations, lease renewals, and fiscal-year-end cleanups drive moderate demand. Good availability, typically 1 week lead time. Best rates of the year for flat-rate jobs.
July - September (Summer Moves)
Facility relocations, construction projects, and commercial moves peak during summer months. Heat considerations require early morning or evening work for non-climate-controlled facilities.
October - December (Pre-Holiday)
Clearing space for incoming holiday inventory. Quick-turn cleanouts in demand as businesses need space fast. Rush service available but should be booked early. After Thanksgiving is our second-busiest period.
Regardless of season, we maintain a minimum response time of 48 hours for standard cleanouts. Rush service is available year-round with a 24-hour turnaround for facilities under 10,000 sq ft. Learn about our fleet and scheduling
Warehouse Cleanout FAQ
Common questions about our warehouse cleanout services.
Do I need to sort or organize materials before your team arrives?
No — sorting is our job. In fact, we prefer to handle the sorting ourselves because our graders are trained to identify resaleable boxes that most people would assume are only good for recycling. You just need to provide access to the space. We handle everything from there, including moving materials from upper floors if necessary.
Can you work while our facility is still operating?
Absolutely. We routinely perform cleanouts in active warehouses, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities. Our crews are trained to work safely alongside your staff, respecting active work zones, forklift traffic, and operational schedules. We can also work nights and weekends to minimize disruption to your operations.
What happens if you find valuable boxes we did not know about?
This happens more often than you might think. During our on-site sorting, we frequently identify Grade A and B boxes buried under piles of lower-quality material. When we find resaleable inventory, we photograph it, grade it, and credit your account at our standard buyback rates. Many clients are pleasantly surprised by how much their cleanout cost is offset by these found assets.
Do you handle non-cardboard materials found during the cleanout?
Yes, within the scope of packaging materials. We handle wooden pallets (resold or recycled), plastic stretch wrap (recycled through our film recycler), foam packaging, and packing materials. We do not handle hazardous waste, electronics, or non-packaging items like furniture or office equipment. If we encounter these, we will notify you so you can arrange appropriate disposal.
How do you handle multi-story buildings or locations without freight elevators?
We have equipment and procedures for all building types. For upper-floor work without freight elevators, we use hand trucks, rolling carts, and our own personnel to move materials to ground level. We factor stair-carry labor into our quote. For buildings with freight elevators, we coordinate elevator access with your building management to avoid disrupting other tenants.
What is included in the broom-clean guarantee?
Broom-clean means the space is completely cleared of all packaging materials, and the floor is swept clean of dust, cardboard fragments, packing peanuts, and debris. We do not perform deep cleaning (mopping, power washing, or wall cleaning), but the space will be ready for your next use — whether that is new inventory, construction, or handing back to a landlord for lease inspection.
Can I get a cleanout quote without an on-site visit?
For small spaces (under 3,000 sq ft), we can often provide a reliable estimate based on photos and a phone conversation. For medium to large facilities, we strongly recommend the free on-site assessment — it takes about 30 minutes and allows us to give you an accurate, guaranteed quote. Remote estimates for larger jobs carry a +/- 30% variance that we prefer to avoid.
Need a Cleanout?
Get a free on-site assessment and quote. We'll tell you exactly what we can do and what it'll cost — often less than you'd expect.
What Makes Box Recovery and Recycling Programs Actually Work
The difference between a smooth pickup program and an expensive cleanup problem usually comes down to preparation. Businesses that separate resaleable stock, document volumes, and provide clear dock access recover more value and avoid unnecessary labor charges.
A good service partner should be able to handle more than hauling. The real value is in sorting, grading, routing material to reuse first, and giving the client a clean operational outcome instead of simply removing visible clutter.
Whether the job is a recurring buyback route, a one-time warehouse cleanout, or a high-volume recycling stream, the most efficient projects start with a realistic understanding of material condition, loading access, and the desired financial or environmental result.
Useful information to prepare before requesting service
- Approximate volume by box type, pallet count, or square footage
- Whether material is clean and dry enough for reuse or should go directly to recycling
- Available dock doors, forklift access, trailer restrictions, and pickup windows
- Whether you need documentation for landfill diversion, ESG reporting, or internal approval
Related Reading
Additional guides and articles that deepen the topic on this page.