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Central Indiana veterans teaming up to help the environment

Veterans recycle.PNG
Posted at 5:47 PM, Apr 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-29 21:42:32-04

INDIANAPOLIS — Every year the amount of trash thrown into garbage cans continues to rise. The environmental protection agency says out of 262 million tons of trash in the United States, only about 25 percent is recycled.

JDog Junk Removal and Hauling in Indianapolis is a company owned and operated by veterans like Patrick Cummings.

"If you want to think of us as like a moving company that drives around a dumpster that's what we are," Cummings said.

JDog Junk Removal removes anything that people consider to be junk outside of their house and into their dump truck.

"We've done everything from single item pickups to full-blown hoarder situations," Cummings said.

When they pick up the items, their goal is to keep 60 to 80 percent of the collections out of the landfill.

"The landfill is the last resort for us; if it's metal we recycle it, if it's usable we donate it," Cummings said.

JDog works with local charities and recycling facilities, at which they recycle many tons of metal a week.

For Cummings, it's also a good feeling to have stability after serving our country.

"What I really like about JDog is the ability to empower our veterans to become business owners and give them a feasible path towards that," he said.

Cummings hopes to make more hires as the business grows, especially veterans to join his new mission.

"I wasn't quite long enough to be a captain of a ship," Cummings said. "But I'm kind of captain of my own ship now and that's what it feels like, and it's good."

The company moves your junk out, helping the environment and building confidence in those who served and protected our country.