Furniture Recycling: Everything You Need To Know

In most cases, old furniture ends up in landfills, which is not suitable for the environment. While some people find it helpful, it is contrary to the law and not the only option of disposing of your old furniture. 

The truth is that there are several green junk removal options you can choose for your old furniture. For example, you can choose to recycle them, sell them, or repurpose the existing furniture options. 

Some owners choose to donate them to charity organizations, especially if the old furniture is still in usable condition. While there are several options to choose from, many people are unaware of them. Consequently, we see plenty of old and worn recliners or couches lying on the roadside where they have been illegally dumped. 

This is hazardous to the environment and against the law in all states. If you have ever done that or plan on doing it, you shouldn’t. It is the worst way to get rid of old furniture and can result in legal action, leave alone damage to the environment.

Over $120 billion is spent on new furniture every year in the US. This means that most of the old furniture is discarded because it is no longer needed. Given that some users have the desire to hold onto their old pieces, it is essential for them to know what to do with the unwanted pieces of furniture. 

In fact, old or discarded furniture makes up almost five percent of the overall household waste every year in the US. Most of the victims don’t know that furniture recycling is a good option and can help keep the hardware intact. So, how much is five percent of the total household waste? In 2020, Americans tossed over 15,000,000 tons of furniture. 

Unfortunately, most of this waste ends up in landfills, where it causes significant damage to the environment. No matter the type of times you want to remove, old furniture disposal and removal can be a tedious job. 

Handling environmentally friendly furniture can make things a little bit easier, but you still have to use a lot of manpower on the removal process. For instance, you might find that you still have to dismantle the old furniture first before you get it out of the house. 

To determine the best way to get rid of your old furniture, you need to figure out the type of materials that make them. In most cases, you might not find the material used to make the furniture in recycling or trash bins. 

Furthermore, most communities don’t allow furniture items to be left out on the curb because it is unpleasant to the eye. Most municipalities also don’t allow old furniture in public spaces. Even if they do, you will have to get a special permit to access their removal services. You are also limited to their schedule and only have trash collected when the municipality starts collecting trash. 

While they might collect your old furniture, you still have to do the heavy lifting. In some cases, people have to transport their unwanted or old furniture to the local landfill where it is disposed of. While this is not the best option, over 70% of people in the US go with it. 

This can result in environmental damage as opposed to recycling old furniture. Surprisingly, having your old furniture disposed of in a landfill is more costly than having it recycled! Besides, you will still have to do the heavy lifting, hauling, and disposal. If you are not used to such activities, you could sustain severe injuries. 

How To Dispose of Old Furniture in the Right Way

As mentioned earlier, disposing of old furniture can be very challenging. This is especially the case for household items like credenzas, buffets, large sofas, and hutches. Moving such pieces of furniture requires at least two people to lift and carry them. You will also need extra people to navigate and clear the pathway for safe removal. When it comes to disposing and removal of old furniture, you need a well-adapted vehicle.

You should know that a large couch won’t fit in any sedan, leave alone most SUVs. If a cargo van or truck is available, you have to load the old furniture, tie it down, and secure it. When hauled somewhere for disposal that takes up old furniture, you also have to handle the unloading process. If the furniture is still in good condition, you can repurpose it. For that reason, you need to know how to recycle old furniture. You can also choose to take them for donations.

There are several options you can choose from when it comes to disposing of old furniture. If you have several furniture options you are looking to get rid of; there is a checklist that can help you do the right thing. At Junk King, here is what we think is the right way to remove old furniture from your house. 

Donating It

If your old furniture is still in good condition, donate it. You might find a neighbor in need of a gently used recliner or couch. Having them take your old furniture prevents significant damage to the environment. 

Besides, there are numerous charity organizations that can take in your old furniture and repurpose it. This is more likely to be the case if the furniture is in good shape. However, it is essential to call first before dropping off your furniture. Here are some of the charitable organizations you can work with:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: This is a charitable organization that picks up gently used furniture, among other items. It then resells the furniture at a reduced price. If you don’t find this arrangement enticing, battered women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and thrift stores can work for you. Contact these establishments and see whether they can take your old furniture.
• Goodwill and Salvation Army: This is another charitable organization that can take your old furniture. If you don’t have a local old furniture bank, check with your local Salvation Army or Goodwill. Some of these companies even offer to pick them up for you. This is very convenient and reliable. 
• Furniture Bank Association of North America: This organization helps you locate your nearest furniture bank. It provides furniture to people in need at little or no cost. Thankfully, many of these organizations will be willing to take up old furniture from your home. This is ideal because they do all the heavy lifting for you.

Trade or Sell Your Used Furniture

Another way you can dispose of old furniture is by selling it. When you toss out your old furniture, you create more waste that can be harmful to the environment. You are also likely to waste more cash. What you might not know is that your old couch might be valuable to someone. There are numerous websites out there with potential buyers. For example, you can start with Craigslist, a website where you can buy and sell anything. 

Those in Canada can try Kijiji, a similar website with an excellent conversion rate. If you are not comfortable with websites, you can try selling your old furniture through your social media platforms. It is also helpful to check out trade networks. On trade networks, you can trade your furniture with something else instead of selling it. This is an excellent way to participate in trade within your community or beyond. 

On Facebook, you can check out the Bunz Trading Zone group that is being used in both the US and Canada. You can also find Freecycle that has similar features. In many cities and towns, you can access consignment shops that can take your old furniture and display it for sale. This goes a long way in helping you get rid of it. 

Hire Professional Furniture Removal

Alternatively, you can hire someone with a truck to help haul away your old furniture. In that case, you may have to carry that sofa, heavy couch, or recliner out the front door yourself. In some cases, you might have to do all the heavy lifting by yourself, something that could result in injuries. Why go through all that trouble when you can hire a professional to handle it for you?

Hiring a professional junk removal company like Junk King Northshore is a much better option. We will do all the heavy lifting for you and take away the entire set quickly and efficiently. We also know how to recycle wood, meaning your old furniture will not end up in landfills. Given the nature of hauling, removing, and disposing of large furniture, it is vital that you leave the job to experts. When it comes to getting rid of old furniture, doing it right is what we do every day at Junk King! 

We ensure that your old furniture ends up in the right place and not in landfills where it can damage the environment. For instance, we can take it to charity, especially if it is still in good shape. Alternatively, we can take it to a recycling facility to ensure that it is properly disposed of. At Junk King, we ensure that furniture removal is done properly because we know old furniture makes up a significant percentage of home waste. We have the right equipment and personnel to get the job done, so you have nothing to worry about!

10 Tips for Reducing the Waste from Old Furniture

Maintaining furniture is a challenging task but can be very rewarding. There are several tips you can apply to reduce waste from your old furniture. Wooden furniture, in particular, adds a sense of allure to your home despite its old age. 

In fact, any wooden piece can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal. For that reason, you must do everything possible to maintain your old pieces. However, it is equally important to know how to reduce waste from these pieces. Here are ten tips on how to reduce waste from old furniture and help maintain it better. 

1. Proper Dusting – You wouldn’t want your old couch to be dusty and untidy. Therefore, you must dust it properly to keep it sparkling. You already know that a sparking piece of furniture makes your home attractive. By dusting it properly, you help achieve this status. Therefore, get a soft, dry piece of cloth to wipe the dust off your furniture. This goes a long way in reducing waste that comes from it. If you clean your tables and sofas, you should do so on a bimonthly basis. This frequency helps prevent dust from building up on your old furniture.
2. Check the Temperature – Old wooden furniture could be vulnerable to excessive temperatures. Extremely hot or cold objects could affect the structure of your old furniture. Therefore, you should avoid exposing them to these items for better maintenance. This is because such items tend to leave unsightly impressions that may affect the original surface texture. You should also ensure that the exposure is limited to the permissible time intervals to prevent unnecessary build-up. Remember that excessive temperatures could accelerate the disintegration of your old furniture, increasing the amount of waste it produces. 
3. Limit Sunlight Exposure – If you have old wooden furniture, you should be careful about exposing it to sunlight for extended periods. This is not the case because it can result in a phenomenon called spot, where dark and bright spots appear across the furniture. For example, on a wooden table, you could notice numerous spots that will make you want to get rid of it. Thankfully, you can fix this problem by using a wet tablecloth. Ensure that you keep your furniture in the right lighting conditions to prevent any damage. You should also keep them away from windows that let in a lot of light. 
4. Allow it Age Gracefully – Another way you can reduce waste from old furniture is by allowing it to age gracefully. Furniture ages with time, and you need to handle it carefully during this time. Just like wine, it may have a new phenomenon in its twilight years. Depending on the material used to make the furniture, it might lighten up or darken with the passage of time. Therefore, when buying furniture next time, you should be mindful of its aging habits to limit waste. Nonetheless, you should keep an eye on aging furniture and know when to get rid of it.
5. Wax and Oil Regularly – Waxing and oiling wood is essential because it helps give a shiny varnish to your old furniture. Besides, it introduces a protective layer, a coating on the surface that helps improve its appearance. If you could wax or oil your old wooden furniture once in a while, you will help keep it in excellent condition. You need to be careful about overdoing it because sometimes oil can be hazardous to old furniture. Keeping the pieces in good condition prevents the need to haul them away, reducing the amount of waste generated. 
6. Keep Sharp Items Away – Old furniture pieces are in a delicate situation, and sharp items could cause significant damage. Getting sharp items too close to these pieces could tear them down. You also keep toddlers away because they can scratch the surface of your furniture with sharp objects and make them unsightly. This could make you want to get rid of them.
7. Use Warm Water When Cleaning – If you want to clean your old furniture, you should use mild dish soap and warm water. However, you should be careful not to soak it for an extended period because it will affect its stability. It could also accelerate its disintegration, resulting in more waste. You should clean it thoroughly until all the dust wears off. Remember that you can wipe away the residual moisture with a piece of cloth. This goes a long way in maintaining the shape of your old furniture. 
8. Donate – If you have acquired new furniture and want to get rid of the old one, you can donate it to charity. There are a lot of excellent charities that hold furniture stores. You can trade in used furniture with all proceeds going to charity. Therefore, instead of throwing it away, you should get in touch with one of these charities to donate it. You will not only be helping people in need but also keeping the environment clean.
9. Recycling – If you are wondering what to do with your old furniture, consider recycling it. There are many old furniture recycling facilities you can choose from. Remember that there is always someone in need of these items, and you don’t have to struggle to look for them. Recycling old furniture is an excellent waste of reducing waste and helps keep the environment clean. 
10. Dispose – You can also dispose of used furniture. If your furniture is no longer needed, you need to find a safe way of disposing of it. Unfortunately, most people end up leaving old furniture in landfills where they can damage the environment. This is not ideal because it makes the area unsightly and inhabitable. It also increases the risk of legal action. 

Bonus: Hire a Professional

If you want to reduce waste from your old furniture, hire professionals to get rid of it. At Junk King Northshore, we have what it takes to safely remove old furniture. Our team is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that will efficiently handle the process. We also have large trucks that can carry any size of furniture. All you have to do is get in touch with us!

The Complete Guide To Reusing Your Old Furniture

Reusing old furniture is one of the most reliable ways you can dispose of it. However, most people are unsure of how they can reuse their old furniture. According to an article published by Planet Save, furniture is the least reused and recycled item in households. Funny enough, there are several ways you can reuse old furniture. 

Besides, the advantages of recycling are well documented, with most authorities urging residents to embrace this habit. Unfortunately, over ten million household items end up in landfills every year, meaning people are not keen on reusing and recycling. Here are some of the ways you can recycle or reuse your old furniture. 

Donate To Charity

Nowadays, charity shops are no longer just for old jigsaw puzzles and chintz lampshades — several charity organizations have become furniture stores that resell unwanted furniture with proceeds going to charity. Therefore, if you have an unwanted piece of furniture, you can check out these organizations. Check within your locality for any charity shop where you can take your old furniture. Some charity organizations employ homeless people to recycle and fix up furniture, which is then sold in their shops with proceeds going to charity. If you donate your old furniture to such organizations, you will be helping people in need and at the same time keeping the environment clean. 

Donate Through Furniture Re-use Network

Organizations like Furniture Re-use Network allow you to get rid of your old furniture and help make a positive impact on the environment. These organizations have remarkable initiatives that involve reusing old furniture and keeping it away from landfills. They can also give it to people in need for better use. Thankfully, there are plenty of such organizations in society, making it easy for you to donate your old furniture. They allow people to get rid of or find old furniture with the aim of reusing them. 

Get a Reliable Company

Another great way you can reuse your old furniture is by hiring an environmentally friendly rubbish collection company. Junk King Northshore is a furniture removal company that focuses on environmentally friendly solutions for waste disposal. We divert over 92% of waste from landfills, keeping the environment clean and steady. 

By hiring a junk removal company that takes environmental and social concerns seriously, you can be sure that your old furniture will be recycled appropriately. As a result, there will be a positive impact on the environment, keeping things under control. 

Recycling

There are several effective ways you can give away your old furniture. Perhaps, the most reliable way you can do it is by recycling it because it has zero environmental impact. There are several platforms where you display your old furniture for other people to collect and reuse. A platform like Freecycle has over 5,000 local groups where you can put your old furniture on display. 

It is easy to find an individual within the same locality through such platforms. Doing so prevents furniture from ending up in landfills, where it can cause significant damage to the environment. Apart from Freecycle, there are other platforms like Gumtree where you can display pictures of your old furniture. This platform also allows you to list locally, making it easy to find an interested person.

Upcycle

Another way you can reuse old furniture is through upcycling. This is a DIY project that needs to have prior knowledge of handling furniture. If you don’t have the necessary experience, check out sites like Pinterest for how-to guides and informative tutorials. This information helps you turn your old furniture into quirky, beautiful pieces you can use at home. If you don’t know how to upcycle an old sofa, you can learn from various DIY projects on the internet. 

Reupholster or Refinish

Before deciding to get rid of your old furniture, you should consider refinishing it to give it a brand new look. To do so, start by determining the base material of your furniture. It is essential to know that patio furniture is often made of metal. On the other hand, tables and desks are often made from synthetic wood and natural wood. Chairs and couches could be made from leather, cotton, or linen. If most of your old furniture is made of metal, you can get in touch with a local scrap metal dealer to see if it can be recycled.

For wooden furniture, you can take it to a professional restoration expert or decide to work on them by yourself. You can also use your wide imagination to create something new out of your old furniture. To do so, you can apply new shiny paint or give it a decent look by creating a unique distressed or cracked look. If you have old chairs or couches, you should consider reupholstering them with fresh new fabric. This will give them a brand new look.

Reusing

It is also helpful to give your furniture a brand new look by using new slipcovers. This is a reliable way of fixing your old furniture and making it possible to reuse it. You can also renew your old sofa, chair, and couch by replacing the old fabric.

Trade It

There are many companies that can trade in your old furniture in the same way you can trade in a car and receive a discount. If you have identified the new furniture you wish to buy, you can approach the dealer and ask them if you can trade in your old furniture for a reduced price for the new one.

A Life With Less Waste thanks To Reusing and Recycling Your Old Furniture

About 70% of home waste is old furniture, and most of it ends up in landfills. This is quite a significant amount that can damage the environment. Thankfully, you can avoid all that by reusing and recycling old furniture. 

There are also numerous ways you can repurpose old furniture; for instance, you can donate it to charity organizations. At Junk King, we are committed to ensuring your old furniture is disposed of safely and recycled in the right manner. If you are a Northshore resident and wondering how you can reuse or recycle your old furniture, contact us today.