One of the more unusual things Reese Bickart has been asked to haul away is now sailing around Stampede Reservoir. His business, North Tahoe Junk Removal, was called in to remove a perfectly usable sailboat. Instead of taking it to the dump, Reese gave it to a friend, who still takes it out sailing.
In this case, one man’s junk really was another man’s treasure.
One winter turned into five years
Reese’s story will sound familiar to many Tahoe transplants. A snowboarder who grew up on the East Coast, he started visiting Truckee almost every winter weekend while attending college in the Bay Area. His sister, Skylar (read her spotlight here), had moved here, giving him another reason to make the trip.
When he left school, his plan was to move to Tahoe, work as a snowboard instructor for one season, and head back to the Bay. But winter turned to summer, summer turned back to winter, and five years later, Truckee had become home.
“Well, five years later, I’m still here and can’t imagine leaving. Truckee and the North Tahoe area have really become home for me.”
A truck, a few online posts, and a growing business
As any truck owner knows, you’re always in high demand when people move or start a spring cleaning project. Reese already owned a truck and was looking for side work. It turned out his neighbors were already asking for exactly the kind of help he could offer.
“I started noticing people on Nextdoor and local Facebook groups constantly looking for someone to haul things to the dump.”
His first gigs were small enough to handle with just his pickup. Eventually, he borrowed his brother-in-law’s trailer, allowing him to take on bigger jobs. Demand kept growing, and he bought his own trailers. What started as a side hustle became a full-time business with a crew to help keep up.
His business grew in response to a practical need in the community. People had stuff they needed gone, and Reese had a truck and was willing to do the work.
Making a living through the seasons
The winter that brought Reese to Tahoe is also the season when his hauling business slows down. From May through October, he says, they’re slammed almost every week. Once the snow arrives, the pace changes.
Like many local trades and service businesses, keeping a crew working across seasons takes some juggling. Reese started a Christmas light installation business to help keep himself and the crew busy heading into December. Building a life here means finding ways to make the quieter months work, too.
Even in the busy months, the properties themselves keep things interesting. Steep driveways, tight access, and stairs can turn a seemingly simple pickup into a much bigger undertaking. Add snow, or a house where the trailer can’t get anywhere close to what needs removing, and hauling something away involves quite a bit more than a trip to the dump.
“Every job is a little different, and you learn pretty quickly how to adapt.”
Where everything goes
Reese is candid that a large percentage of what they remove ultimately goes to landfill. When items are in usable condition, they try to donate them first. But as anyone who’s tried to offload furniture at a thrift store knows, donation centers can be quite selective about what they accept.
A couch can still have plenty of life left in it and nowhere willing to take it. Reese tries the donation route when it looks promising, then handles disposal for whatever can’t be accepted. The sailboat was a happy exception: something usable, with someone ready to give it a new home.
“We always try to give something a second life when there’s a realistic opportunity to do so.”
Growing the business while keeping it personal
Reese wants to continue growing the business, with the goal of having a second crew operating full-time. At the time of our interview, he was able to run two crews simultaneously about a quarter of the time.
The goal is to help more customers while holding onto the quick response and personal service that got him here. A bigger business still needs to feel like the local company that started with him answering a neighbor’s post.
“That would allow us to help more customers and continue growing without losing the quick response and personal service that got us here.”
Getting that pile out of your way
For local residents, getting started can be as simple as sending a photo. Reese says you can reach out even if you’re not sure exactly what service you need, and they can typically get someone scheduled within 48 hours.
North Tahoe Junk Removal handles everything from a single-item pickup to full property cleanouts, including old furniture, appliances, yard waste, and remodel debris.
There are two ways to go about it. His crew can do the lifting, loading, and hauling, or they can drop off a dump trailer so you can work through a cleanout at your own pace. Once you’re done, they pick it up and handle disposal.
That might mean finally reclaiming a garage, getting the old couch out of the way, or dealing with the yard debris that’s been on your list for months.
Reese originally planned to spend one winter here. These days, he’s figuring out how to keep a growing crew busy through the next one.
Find out more at North Tahoe Junk Removal, or call or text a photo to 530-214-0727 for a quote.