Meet James

Where It Started

I'm James William Dalby, the owner and operator of J.W.D Junk Removal.

I started the business in 2015, but there was no truck, big investment or perfect business plan. I had no money to put into it—just my dad's minivan and a willingness to work.

Before J.W.D, my girlfriend—who is now my wife—and I inspected automotive parts together. I lost my job while she stayed with the company and became a lead hand. For the next three years, I was unemployed and trying to figure out what direction my life should take.

I knew something had to change, so I started with what I could do.

It Started With Scrap Metal

I began picking up scrap metal wherever I could find it. I would haul old refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves and other appliances out of homes and basements for free. On a good day, I might make $20 to $50 from the metal.

It wasn't glamorous, but it was honest work—and it gave me a place to start.

Eventually, I saved enough to buy a GMC Safari minivan. That was when I began thinking beyond scrap metal. If I was already at someone's home removing an old appliance, why not help with the furniture, boxes and other things they no longer wanted?

That simple idea grew into J.W.D Junk Removal.

Building the Business One Job at a Time

The business didn't take off overnight. It grew one pickup, one customer and one recommendation at a time.

While I was learning the junk removal side, I was also teaching myself how to build a business online. I made my first website with Wix and quickly became fascinated by web design, graphics and SEO. I was always changing something—sometimes just one small detail—to learn what worked and what made the experience better for customers.

Over the years, I've spent well over 1,000 hours learning and experimenting with websites and online marketing. I eventually moved J.W.D to Joomla and began working with Eric Aston of Electric Design. We built a great working relationship by sharing ideas, testing them and continuing to improve the site.

The Junk-O-Meter was one of those ideas. It served us well for years, and thanks to a collaboration with AI, we were able to recreate it and update the rates to better reflect today’s costs. With the future approaching fast, the cost of doing business continues to rise year after year—sometimes by 10–15% for us—so keeping the Junk-O-Meter current helps us provide customers with a more realistic estimate while adapting to changing disposal, fuel, labour and operating costs.

Running a small business has taught me that you have to keep learning, stay flexible and be willing to change when something can be done better.

From a Minivan to Large-Scale Cleanouts

As J.W.D became busier, we reached a point where my wife could leave her job and work alongside me. Being able to build something together as a family meant a lot.

The jobs grew too. I began taking on larger contracts for apartment buildings, storage facilities and grocery stores, including work across a portfolio of 21 apartment buildings and a separate project involving five storage lockers.

That experience taught me how to handle large cleanouts, difficult conditions and tight deadlines without losing sight of fair pricing or good service.

Whether I'm clearing an apartment building or picking up a few items from someone's home, I work the same way: safely, carefully and efficiently. If a heavy or awkward item can be taken apart before it goes through a doorway, that usually makes more sense than trying to muscle 200 pounds through the house in one piece.

Working smart protects the customer's property, protects my body and helps ensure I can keep doing this work for years to come.

More Than 4,000 Jobs Later

I've now completed more than 4,000 junk removal jobs and met thousands of people along the way. One thing I've learned is that this work isn't always really about the junk.

I've helped in homes affected by hoarding, bed bugs, roaches, physical limitations and some very difficult chapters in people's lives. Sometimes a customer just needs a couch gone. Other times, they need someone patient enough to stand beside them, sort through years of belongings and make an overwhelming situation feel manageable.

Those experiences changed how I see the business. What may look like a pile of unwanted things to one person can represent years of memories, stress or circumstances that nobody else can see.

What J.W.D Means to Me

Helping people is what J.W.D means to me.

I'm not a salesman sitting in an office and sending a crew to your home. I'm the owner and operator, and after 11 years, I'm still the person out there doing the work.

I turn 40 this year, and I still give every job everything I have. Outside of work, I'm passionate about running, fitness and ice bathing. I believe in getting comfortable with being uncomfortable—pushing yourself, learning from hard experiences and becoming stronger because of them.

That mindset helped carry me from unemployment and earning a few dollars from scrap metal to a family business that has served thousands of customers across Durham Region.

When I say J.W.D Junk Removal is family owned and operated, I mean it. My family helped build this business, supported it through the difficult years and shared in every step forward.

None of it happened overnight. It happened one pickup, one customer and one opportunity at a time. More than a decade later, I still remember exactly where it began—and I never take a customer's trust for granted.

That's my story, and that's the person who will show up to help.

Have a wonderful day,

— James William Dalby
Owner & Operator, J.W.D Junk Removal