Waste experts JunkHunters.co.uk believe their services will be in demand from businesses eager to bolster the existing rubbish collection services provided by the city council. The Birmingham branch will cover the city and surrounding areas stretching out to Solihull, offering a first-class waste removal service to both companies and domestic clients.

The business will be collecting a wide range of unwanted items from building sites and commercial premises including IT equipment, office furniture and industrial waste. The Birmingham branch will continue to offer Junk Hunters’ commitment to recycling and reusing as much waste as possible. The company currently recycles 75% of all items collected, with plans to reach an 80% target in the coming years.

Birmingham was chosen as the company’s first location outside London as MD Harsha Rathnayake and area manager Romesh Gilles believe England’s second city has plenty of demand for a quality junk clearance service. It’s also thought last year’s council bin strikes may have left some businesses more willing to use a private provider to collect and recycle their unwanted items.

Mr Rathnayake set up the company in London in 2009 with a second-hand tipper truck and £160. The business now has a turnover of over £1million a year with a fleet of immaculately shiny vans and a more than a dozen uniformed employees. Its commitment to recycling and reusing waste and top-quality customer service has been essential, with frequent repeat business a main driver to success. Branded and clean vehicles, a guaranteed delivery slot and uniformed, polite staff have also been central to the business growth.

Junk Hunters CEO Harsha Rathnayake said: “Following a successful nine years in London, we’re delighted to launch in England’s second city of Birmingham. Junk is big business that continues to grow. Businesses and domestic customers always have waste they need to clear, and they want a reliable company who will clear their rubbish and dispose of it responsibly.

“Unwanted junk leads to fly tipping which damages the environment. There is a real need for a responsible operator in Birmingham who is committed to disposing of unwanted items properly. We aim to recycle and reuse as much of the junk we collect as possible. Some gets sorted and sent to the recycling plant, items from house clearances, office clearances that can be reused get taken to charity shops or facilities where the items can be resold.”

He continued: “We’ve worked hard since I launched the business in 2009 to grow it to where it is today and during the last five years we have seen profits rise annually. Junk is not a glamorous business but it’s an industry that provides a vital service and one that we are passionate about. We want new customers in Birmingham, both domestic and commercial, to enjoy the levels of service we’ve been providing in London for almost a decade.”