Furniture: What to do When It’s Time to Say Goodbye

When it's time to say goodbye to a piece of furniture, you might find yourself with a few options. We’ve all seen that couch or mattress find its way to the neighborhood dumpster only to get rained on until someone eventually gives in and hauls it to the dump. Many trash companies actually won’t even pick up large items like that.

While it’s of course “easier” to throw that piece of furniture to the side of the road and hope it gets picked up or dumped out, that’s not the best option. Furniture isn’t something that can decompose the longer it sits out at a landfill. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency actually found that in 2005, 9.69 million tons of furniture and furnishings were dumped at a landfill. That number has only grown tremendously and will continue to grow.

So, what are your other options?

If you’re looking into other options for getting rid of furniture you no longer want, you may consider donating or recycling it. There are many organizations out there that take donated furniture and give it to people who need it, such as those coming out of homelessness, poverty, or domestic violence. There are also many organizations that exist to help Veterans furnish their homes. You may also be familiar with stores like Goodwill who take donations and then put them on the sales floor for prices far below retail.

Donating Furniture

While most of these are tax-deductible opportunities and thus desirable, not every piece of furniture is made equal. Many times, the quality of or state that the furniture is in may not be ideal to be reused or donated. If your furniture has stains, has lived long beyond its years, or is no longer usable, donating it may not be a good idea for you.

If you want more information on where and how to donate furniture, this resource may be helpful.

Recycling Furniture

When people hear the word “recycling,” they often don’t associate it with furniture. The thing is, furniture is made of a variety of materials, many of which can be recycled. When it comes to mattresses, 80% of the materials in it can actually be recycled. At our facility, we accept mattresses and box springs and do our part to get them separated and recycled where we can. To read more about what this process looks like, check out our previous blog here.

Our facility is able to process old furniture such as couches, recliners, chairs, dressers, desks, and more. We remove any steel that’s in the furniture and send whatever remains for further recycling of the wood and materials. Our fees for recycling furniture are $20 for mattresses, box springs, tables, dressers, recliners, and loveseats, and $40 for couches.

Before you recycle furniture, make sure that you remove any personal items, especially if it’s something like a dresser or desk.

Helping the Environment

Recycling furniture rather than leaving it at a landfill is a responsible choice for the environment. By recycling, any of the materials that can be recycled can be reused and made into other items. Materials like metal, wood, and foam can be used for things like scrap metal, mulch, carpet padding, and fabric.

When it’s time to say goodbye to furniture in your home or office, we’d love to be your first stop for items that can’t be donated or repaired. Give us a call today if you have any questions at 888-283-0007. We look forward to helping reduce your waste production and helping you make the most out of the furniture you loved!