Karang Guni in 2025: What Sells Fast, What Doesn't
- Junk Value
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 27
If you grew up in Singapore in the 80s, you probably remember the cry of “Karang Guni!” echoing through HDB corridors — the unmistakable sound of someone collecting old newspapers, electronics, or scrap metal in exchange for a few dollars.
But in 2025, that familiar trade has changed. The days when Karang Guni uncles would buy almost anything are long gone. Today, most of them focus only on items with real resale or recycling value.
The rest? They often can’t take it — because transport, manpower, and recycling costs have gone up.
It’s a reminder that not all old items are worth selling anymore. Sometimes, the smarter (and faster) choice is proper junk removal and recycling — not waiting for a buyer who may never show up.
Running a van or lorry in Singapore isn’t practical anymore. Between rising diesel, COE, ERP, and parking fees, every trip eats into the Karang Guni’s income.
👉 Expecting someone to climb three flights of stairs to collect a spoilt fridge and still pay you for it? That’s just not realistic in 2025.
In the past, Karang Guni collectors made small profits from:
🗞️ Newspapers sold by weight
💻 Electronics stripped for salvage
🔩 Metal parts like copper from old appliances
But today’s furniture and appliances are different. Particleboard, plastic, and low-grade metals have little to no resale value. A cracked washing machine or a chipped IKEA table can’t be scrapped — it actually costs money to dispose of.
Many Singaporeans still believe, “If I give it away, someone will take it.”Not anymore. Free pickups are now rare, especially for:
Oversized or spoilt appliances
Bulky furniture with no resale demand
Items requiring stairs, dismantling, or disposal fees
It’s not that Karang Guni uncles have vanished — it’s that the economics have flipped. What used to earn them a few dollars now costs them more in fuel and time than it’s worth.
That’s where Junk Value Recycling steps in.
We’re not Karang Guni — and we’re not a charity. We’re a registered junk removal team built for today’s urban realities:
🚚 We handle bulky furniture and appliance disposal
💪 We take care of heavy lifting, dismantling, and transport
💵 We provide fair, transparent quotes — no “free pickup” gimmicks
♻️ We recycle or repurpose whenever possible to reduce landfill waste
🚫 Why We Say No to “Free Pickup”
We often hear:
“It’s 10 years old and still working — why can’t you buy it or just collect it for free?”
Even “working” items today usually:
Have no resale demand in the secondhand market
Require vehicles, manpower, and disposal fees
Need proper recycling channels to stay compliant with NEA regulations
That’s why Junk Value quotes realistically, arrives on time, and completes every job without hidden costs or excuses.We don’t overpromise — we just get it done professionally.
Respect the Past. Adapt for the Present.
We honour the Karang Guni pioneers — Singapore’s original recyclers who gave waste a second life long before sustainability became mainstream.
But 2025 needs a new model: one that’s realistic about value, transparent in cost, and built for convenience.
So the next time you’re clearing out:
Old furniture from a move
A spoilt washing machine or fridge
Or office junk piling up
Skip the “free pickup” myth.
Choose a reliable, professional, and accountable junk removal team.
✅ Transparent quotes
✅ Reliable collection crew
✅ Proper disposal of all bulky junk, furniture & appliances
📞 Contact Junk Value
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