My memory seems to recall that there are salvage companies and/or junk
yards that will pick-up your old dishwashers, lawn mowers,
televisions, etc. for free. I can't find one for the Chicago suburbs
(Hoffman Estates), but if you can, that would be great. I just need
one who will come pick the aforementioned stuff up from my driveway.

Hi davemtm,

You might want to call the Salvation Army at: 1-888-5-PICKUP
(547-2587) or
312-738-4367.  Also Goodwill, because both of those organizations will
do free pickups for a donation.

If this works for you, I'll be happy to post it as an answer. 

Regards,

tlspiegel
Google Answers Researcher

Unfortunately that is not an option, we give LOTS of stuff to
Salvation Army every year, they won't take garbage -- in fact
sometimes we're surprised just how picky they can be!  But they do
good work, so we keep on giving to them. So in this case, your idea is
not a valuid answer, but thanks - Dave

This is probably not the best option for you, but if you can move the
stuff yourself, just take it to any alley in the city and drop it off.
 It'll be gone in no time, garenteed.  A lot of mexicans cruise the
alleys in the city looking for scrap metal, teeter in on top of their
rusty Ford and sell it.

Hi, Dave~

You'd think it would be easy to find junk haulers ... but it did turn
out to be a bit of a challenge.

In any case, try this website here:
 http://www.thecityofchicago.org/garbage/

there are several garbage/junk haulers who may be able to help you.

Otherwise, there is 1-800-got-junk, which is a national company that
charges a pretty penny to come and get your garbage and then often
recycles it all and gets twice that for selling the parts.

There is also the haulers in the Classifieds of the Sun-Times and Trib
which may be able to help you.

Serenata

This probably was not the best question to use Google Answers for -
and I will certainly have other completely different questions in the
near future.

The 2nd suggestion doesn't even merit comment - neither politically
correct or practical.

The most recent comment doesn't address my question. It gives me a
number of Chicago specific firms that charge a fee to haul your
garbage versus what I asked for, a company that comes to my suburb and
picks up your old appliances for free.  Thanks for trying, but none of
these work for me.