There are lots of ethical alternatives to flinging your furniture in a landfill
Whether you're doing a living room remodel or your saggy sofa and banged-up bed have just seen better days, upgrading your furniture is an exciting project. But when it’s time to get rid of the old, worn-out stuff, it can be headache-inducing. These bulky and heavy items are tough to haul into your car trunk, and it doesn’t feel ethical to toss them all in a landfill to rot.
If you’re debating how to dispose of old furniture, thankfully, there are many options—many of which are eco-friendly and easier on your back.
With the advent of fast furniture that’s not designed to have a long lifespan, the number of sofas, tables, chairs, mattresses, and more ending up in landfills has skyrocketed in recent decades. According to the EPA, over 12 million tons of furniture is tossed by Americans annually, and many of the materials don’t biodegrade.
Ever-growing, toxic gas-leaking landfills harm our environment, so it makes sense to look at the 3 Rs when disposing of old furniture—recycle, reuse, or repurpose.
How you dispose of your old furniture depends on local regulations, the item's condition, and what services there are in your neighborhood.
Consider the options below when deciding on the best solution for your circumstance.
If your furniture is in good condition but doesn’t go with your updated decor, why not sell it and make a few bucks to put toward a new purchase? And, as a bonus, someone else will have to do the heavy lifting when transporting it. There are plenty of sites to market your moveables.
If you’re decluttering your home as part of your remodel and have lots of usable items to move on, you could host a garage sale. Getting your neighbors involved in a community yard sale is a great way to build relationships, attract more potential buyers, and make your street more sustainable.
Get a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing your gently used sofa or dining table is going to someone who needs it or will help raise funds for a good cause. Many charities and nonprofit organizations accept furniture that is still in good condition. They will often pick up the item, too.
Research local charity pickup services, community thrift stores, or gifting websites. You might even have a neighbor, friend, or family member who could use the furniture.
If your table or sofa is still in good working order but looks dated or clashes with your new decor, it doesn’t mean you have to dump or donate it. From reupholstering a couch to painting or staining an old desk or bookshelf, there are many ways to refresh your furniture.
Or, with a little imagination and elbow grease, you can repurpose your old furniture to create new and exciting pieces. These sustainable options not only keep things out of landfills, but they also mean saving money instead of spending on new furnishings.
If you’re doing a full home remodel or decluttering, you might be removing multiple bulky furniture items. This is when hiring a junk removal service near you to collect everything from your home is a worthwhile investment. The average cost of a junk removal service is $240, and this hassle-free option saves a lot of time and effort.
Booking a local dumpster rental service is another option if you want to take your time gathering the odds and ends. But it means moving the heavy furniture yourself. The average cost to rent a dumpster is $380 for one week, but it varies depending on its size and how long you need it.
Check that the company has the right disposal licenses and uses appropriate recycling methods when they can.
Most municipal trash-management divisions offer a free-of-charge bulky pickup service. However, it is usually only an annual offering, and you must fit in with their schedule. If the timings match up, it’s just a case of roping in some friends or family members to get the items to the pickup point. Check what things they accept and whether there are limits on the pile size.
And it’s worth noting that your furniture could still end up just heading to a landfill, depending on what it is.
Sometimes donating, selling, or repurposing your furniture isn’t an option. You can't give away a sofa with a pest infestation or one your puppy has used as a potty place one too many times.
In these instances, dumping at the landfill might be the only option. Breaking down mixed-material furniture is time-consuming, and the components are often not recyclable.
One way to avoid adding furniture to landfills is to hold on to it for as long as possible. Here are some tips for making the most out of the items in your home.
Invest in a timeless furniture style that won’t age like a fad that’s currently in fashion.
Opt for quality furnishings rather than flat-pack. Your pieces could last a lifetime rather than just five or 10 years.
Purchase and restore antique furniture. Not only are you helping the environment, but you often end up with a one-of-a-kind, quality-made piece.
Consider purchases carefully. Do you really need a new bookshelf for your already cluttered living room?
Make sure the furniture is fit-for-purpose. A delicate suede sofa isn’t ideal in a house full of shedding, slobbery hounds.
Perform regular cleaning and maintenance on your furniture.
It’s tempting to leave your furniture on the curbside with a “free to good home” sign. However, this can earn you a fine in many municipalities, and you risk needling your neighbors. Plus, donating or selling your sofa becomes more tricky if there are no takers. Especially if you had bad weather overnight or the neighbor’s dog used it as a rest stop.
When it comes to disposing of mattresses, metal, and untreated wood items, these are typically recyclable. In comparison, things like treated wood, chipboard or particleboard, and some types of sofa foam padding aren’t. Older items of furniture also often contain chemicals that are a health hazard. However, it might be possible to break the furniture down and recycle some, if not all, of the pieces. Contact your government trash management division or a local, authorized recycling center for more advice.
