A Solution to Furniture Waste
Every year, billions of pounds of furniture material is discarded in landfills across the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), furniture waste has increased from 2.15 billion pounds per year in 1960 to nearly 9.80 billion pounds in 2017 with no signs of slowing down.
While a significant portion of used furniture is combusted for energy, EPA research suggests about 80% of unwanted furniture still ends up in landfills. That’s a lot of dumped sofas, tables, chairs, and mattresses!
The good news is that there are many ways to reduce the amount of furniture items that end up in landfills, one of which is by recycling old or unwanted furniture.
Whether you are needing to get rid of unused furniture or are looking to purchase new furnishings for your home, recycling furniture is a more sustainable and cost effective option.
Read on to learn about the many ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle furniture.
How to Recycle Furniture
Household furniture is made from a variety of different materials including wood, plastic, metals, fabrics and more. Oftentimes, these materials are combined to make household items like sofas, mattresses, and dressers.
Items constructed of multiple materials complicate the furniture disposal process and make it more difficult to recycle in a cost-effective manner. While the best option is to repair or refurbish whenever possible, it is still possible to recycle furniture if you prepare it properly.
Disassemble the Furniture if Possible
Many recycling facilities do not accept furniture as a whole because it is made from several mixed materials. By taking the furniture apart, you increase the chances that its components can be recycled. You can:
Remove fabric and padding from chairs or couches.
Take off any plastic or metal legs or hardware.
Separate wood frames from upholstery.
Pull out foam or stuffing and check if there are textile recycling options nearby.
Check the Condition
If the furniture is still in usable shape, consider reuse before recycling. Contact local second hand stores, donation centers, or charities such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, or Salvation Army.
Many of these organizations accept furniture donations and may even offer free pickup for larger items. You can also list your item on resale platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp to find someone who needs it.
Find a Recycling Center
Some municipal recycling programs or private recycling facilities accept bulky items like furniture.
Visit a site like Earth 911 and use their recycling locator tool. Simply enter your ZIP code and the material type, and you will see a list of nearby recycling facilities that may accept your furniture.
Be Aware of Treated or Composite Materials
Some furniture is made with treated wood, laminated particleboard, adhesives, or synthetic blends that are not recyclable.
If your furniture contains these materials and recycling is not possible, check if your city offers bulk waste collection days or drop-off locations that handle this type of waste responsibly.
What To Do With Unwanted Furniture
If you have several pieces of furniture to get rid of, especially during a move, renovation, or home cleanout, renting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal service can make the process much easier. For larger projects, like clearing out office furniture, a dumpster rental can be especially useful for handling bulk items efficiently.
Sourgum offers dumpster rentals in a range of sizes to fit your needs. You can place your order online, get next-day delivery, and choose a rental period that works for your timeline.
Along with fast service and reliable pickup, Sourgum is committed to sustainability. Whenever possible, we divert collected furniture and materials away from landfills and toward recycling centers, helping reduce environmental impact and support a circular economy.
We also plant a tree for every dumpster rented, and work closely with customers to promote waste minimization, recycling, and smarter disposal practices.
The Problem with Fast Furniture
It used to be the case that furniture was built to last and be passed down for generations.
In recent years, this type of long-lasting furniture has been overshadowed by what is sometimes called “fast furniture,” or mass-produced, low-quality furniture items. Fast furniture is cheap because it is designed to be disposed of when broken, out of style, or simply when it is too inconvenient to bring along to a new home.
Most fast furniture is made from short-lived materials like particle board covered with veneer or laminate. Although inexpensive, particle board often contains toxins such as formaldehyde or chemical dyes. The plastic coatings and chemical resins used to bind the material together also make it nearly impossible to recycle.
Unlike solid wood, fast furniture cannot be sanded, repaired, or refinished. Once damaged, it’s done. Particle board is especially vulnerable to moisture and tends to warp or break down in damp environments. As a result, many of these pieces last only a few years before they end up in a landfill.
While it may seem economical at first, fast furniture often costs more in the long run. The low price tag comes with a short lifespan, which means you’ll likely find yourself replacing these items again and again.
Instead of buying and re-buying short-lived, mass-produced, low-quality furniture, it will save you money in the long run to invest in a well-made piece that can last for decades.
You can find sturdy furniture at antique stores or second-hand shops. While you may need to do some DIY updates, in the end you will have a much more sustainable and long-lasting home furnishing.
A Better Future Starts with Old Furniture
Whether you are committed to furniture recycling or looking for ways to repurpose furniture, you are making a sustainable choice that helps reduce landfill waste.
Choosing repurposed furniture is not only better for the planet, but also a creative and affordable way to add unique pieces to your home.
Antique finds or recycled DIY furniture bring character and charm to your space. Many items made from reclaimed or recycled materials also come with a story of their own, making your home feel more personal and thoughtful.
If you’re wondering what to do with unwanted furniture, or asking yourself: “What can I do with old furniture?”, consider giving it a second life instead of throwing it away. There are countless ideas on how to repurpose furniture, whether through donation, resale, or a personal DIY project.
By reusing and updating older items, you're supporting a more circular approach to consumption and giving your home a story worth telling.
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