Old furniture can be a pain to get rid of.
It’s bulky, heavy, and often requires a vehicle to haul it off to the dump. And if you have multiple items to dispose of, it can seem like a hefty and time-consuming task.
But if old furniture is taking up space in your home (or office), it’s got to go somewhere! Most people assume this means a large trip to the dump. But before you resort to a landfill, you might want to consider these more efficient (and eco-friendly) options.
So, don’t dump your old furniture… check out these options instead!
Google estimates that nearly 3000 people search for “where to dump furniture” every month. That’s a lot of couches, chairs, tables, and more potentially ending up in the garbage! If you are looking for a place to dump your broken or outdated furniture, it’s worth knowing about some safer, greener options.
In fact, taking old furniture to the dump (i.e. landfill) is not only costly, but it adds to an already over-filled waste system. This can contribute to the build-up of hazardous materials, dangerous chemicals, and unusable “garbage” that then impacts our local communities.
As one study noted:
“[the amount of] furniture and furnishings [taken to landfills] was 12.1 million tons in 2018, up from 2.2 million tons in 1960”. And this is only accelerating.
At Living Green Technology, we’re all about finding smarter, healthier ways to dispose of old furniture, electronics, and more. Read on for some eco-friendly alternatives!
Before you haul your old furniture off to the landfill, it’s worth considering some greener (and, often, less expensive) options. From donating your old furniture to selling it for cash, there are better ways to dispose of old furniture than to take it to the dump!
1. Drop it off at a local recycling center
Many local recycling centers accept used furniture and recycle the material. There are a number of household items you can donate, including:
Most places allow you to drop off anything that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or materials. Of course, feel free to contact your local recycling center ahead of time if you’re not sure whether they will accept a particular item.
Furniture Re-use Solutions is one example of an organization that accepts donated furniture, reducing its impact on the environment. They allow people and businesses to donate furniture for a good cause.
2. Donate it to a non-profit organization
If you don’t want to drop off your furniture at a government or for-profit recycling center, a non-profit organization may be a good choice. These are organizations that accept old furniture and make it available for re-purchase and/or take the funds and put them toward community initiatives.
By donating to a charity, you’re extending the life of your old furniture, making it available for other people to use. This reduces your eco-footprint and provides items to people in need.
Some examples of organizations you can donate to include:
If you have metal bed frames, tables, chairs, etc., you may be able to take them to your local scrap metal dealer. These scrap yards collect waste metals that would otherwise be tossed in a landfill and turn them into materials that can then be used to make other items.
Before recycling your metal furniture, call your local scrap metal dealer to make sure they accept that particular metal. While most scrap yards will accept both ferrous and non-ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal may cost more to dispose of. Hold a magnet to your furniture and if it sticks, it contains non-ferrous metal.
Facebook is a great place to get rid of old furniture. There are tons of people looking to snag a good deal on cheap furniture, and are even willing to come pick it up for you!
Facebook Marketplace allows you to post old furniture either as “free” items or at a listed price. If your furniture is in poor condition or otherwise not worth much money, consider posting it for free. But if you think it might be worth something, you might be able to sell it for cash.
You might also be able to find “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups that allow you to post items and people will “volunteer” to come pick it up. Just go on Facebook and search for “buy nothing” + [ your city name ] to see if there is a Buy Nothing group for your area.
If transporting your old furniture seems like a hassle, you might consider hiring a sustainable removal service. These are companies that come pick up your old furniture for you and then recycle, refurnish, or donate it.
At Living Green Technology, we offer quick and convenient furniture removal services to businesses. If you reside in the Seattle area, you can schedule a pick-up and we will transport your furniture back to our headquarters, recycle it, or re-sell it.
Any furniture that is old or has no value is processed and recycled into raw materials to be used in new items. Furniture that does have value is re-sold at a heavily discounted price to businesses in need.
Search your local area for sustainable furniture removal services and help protect our environment. Plus, save time versus hauling off the furniture yourself!
If your old furniture holds monetary value, but you haven’t got many bites on Facebook Marketplace, there are other platforms where you can sell your furniture for cash. You can get rid of your old furniture and get some extra money in your pocket.
For one, you could post up your items in a garage sale or yard sale. If you have a lot of items to sell, this might be the most efficient way to make some money and get your old furniture hauled off in one day.
You can list old furniture online on platforms like Craigslist, Nextdoor.com, or eBay. This is another way to find local buyers and even receive “bids” on your items.
Finally, you can take old furniture to a local consignment shop. These places usually accept old furniture that’s in good condition, without damages or tears.
If you have old furniture to get rid of, your first thought may be to take it to the dump. But this can be costly and it’s not great for the environment. There are many, better, and more eco-friendly options!
You can donate your furniture to a good cause, sell it for cash, post it in Buy Nothing Facebook groups, and so much more. You will feel better knowing that your old furniture went to a good place instead of in a landfill. And you might make some money in the process!