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How to Dispose of Furniture

Q: Where can I dump old furniture?

Furniture should only be dumped at an approved recycling or disposal location, such as your local landfill or transfer station or scrap metal yards. Furniture should not be dumped on public property, including parks and wildlife preserves or private property that isn’t your own.

Q: Can I recycle furniture?

Most furniture is difficult to recycle due to the amount of chemicals and unnatural materials used to make them. You can, however, recycle old furniture into new pieces with a little creativity and elbow grease.

Q: Are there any fees associated with disposing of furniture?

In some areas, landfills charge a fee to dismantle any upholstered furniture you throw away. This is done to decrease the amount of space furniture takes up in the landfill. This fee will apply whether you’re renting a dumpster to get rid of furniture or using curbside or bulk collection.

Q: What is the best way to load furniture into a dumpster?

When using a dumpster to get rid of old furniture, walk the largest items inside first and distribute them evenly throughout the container. Make sure all materials are level with the dumpster’s top edge and that nothing sticks up over the top or hangs on the sides.

Q: Can I mix other items in with furniture in a roll off dumpster?

In most cases, yes. If you’re working on a home cleanout, we can usually dispose of furniture right along with general refuse and other household clutter. However, some materials are never allowed to be disposed of in a roll off dumpster, including hazardous or flammable waste. Be sure to keep these prohibited items out of your container.

Q: Are there any types of furniture that can’t go in a dumpster?

While wooden furniture is almost always allowed, some areas may not take upholstered furniture. Get in touch with our team to learn more about what furniture disposal options are available near you.

Q: How do I get rid of a couch?

If you're ready to get rid of an old couch, breaking it down first can save you the work of hauling it to the curb in one piece. If you rented a dumpster to dispose of other old furniture, too, breaking your couch down will help make the most of the space in your container. Before you take your couch to the local landfill, make sure to take it apart the correct way so you don't get charged a dismantling fee.

The Complete Furniture Disposal Guide

If you’re getting ready to move, downsize or simply refresh your home decor, it’s important to know your options for getting rid of furniture you no longer want.

How you throw furniture away will largely depend on how much you need to get rid of and how quickly you want to get the job done. Before getting started, take inventory of the furniture you’re removing, as well as any other junk you may be throwing out. Items in good condition can be donated, but if there are major tears, scrapes or pet damage, you’ll need to get rid of the furniture.

If you’ve exhausted your resale options and even your college freshman won’t take the old sofa, take a look at the furniture disposal options below to find the best solution.

Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Furniture

1. Rent a Roll Off Dumpster

This is a quick and affordable way to get rid of furniture and other junk during a home cleanout. We offer a variety of different dumpster rental sizes you can choose from, ranging from 10 to 40 yards. Once you’ve picked a size that fits your project, we will drop off the container in a spot of your choosing. Then, you can easily load your couch, chairs and everything else into the bin. When you’re finished, just schedule your pickup online and we’ll come haul it away. This option is ideal for home cleanouts and major junk removal or decluttering projects, as it allows you to work at your own pace as you sort through your items.

Dumpster Filled With Furniture on Blueprint Background

Benefits	Things to Consider
Load your furniture at your own pace.	Best for removing multiple items, or large furniture.
No need to be home for pickup.	You have to load your own items.
Low, upfront rate is provided before your rental arrives.	Dumpster sizes, weight limits and restrictions can vary by location.
Offers a guaranteed, scheduled removal of your furniture.

Ready to Rent a Dumpster?

2. Leave It at the Curb

If you have only a few smaller items, getting rid of furniture may be as easy as dragging it out to your curb. But you should always touch base with your local service provider before doing so. Some municipal and private trash collection services will charge extra to dispose of furniture in addition to your regular trash. You may also be limited to a certain number of items or a certain time when your furniture can be dumped. For example, many cities only do bulk pickups once a month or a few times a year. You might even be required to seal upholstered furnishings in plastic before curbside collection will accept it.

Please note that in some areas, furniture cannot be dumped at the curb at all.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Very little extra work involved.	Best for getting rid of a few items.
Can be low-cost furniture disposal option.	You may need to store furniture until the next bulk pickup day.
	Some cities may not accept furniture at the curb at all.

Two Men Carrying a Yellow Couch With Blueprint Background

3. Hire a Junk Removal Service

A junk removal service will send professionals to your house to determine the cost of removing your furniture. If you agree on the price, they will load up your items and haul them away. This is a good option for getting rid of a couple big-ticket items on the spot. But because junk removal prices are often based on the total volume of your items, it may not be the best choice if you’re working on a full home cleanout or an ongoing junk removal project. Do your homework before hiring a junk removal company for your furniture disposal.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Offers a scheduled removal of your furniture.	Best for removing a few pieces of furniture.
No heavy lifting involved.	Price is subject to increase upon arrival.
	Cost of furniture removal increases per item.
	Must be present for pickup.

4. Take It to a Scrap Dealer

If you have metal chairs, tables or bed frames, you may be able to recycle your furniture at a local scrap metal dealer. Some scrap yards can even recycle steel spring mattresses, provided the cloth is removed beforehand. Before recycling metal furniture, you’ll want to determine whether the metal is ferrous or non-ferrous. Though most scrap yards will take either kind, non-ferrous metal furniture will cost more to dispose of. To determine what kind you’re dealing with, hold a magnet to your furniture. If the magnet does not stick, it’s a non-ferrous metal.

You can find a metal furniture recycling option near you using iScrap App’s scrapyard finder.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Allows metal furniture to be recycled.	Requires access to a truck.
Scrap yards will pay you for your materials.	Nearest scrap yard may be far away.
	Could require multiple trips.

5. Haul It to the Landfill

With the right size pickup truck, you might be able to dump furniture yourself at the local landfill. If you don’t need to get rid of that old couch right away, see if your area landfill offers free bulk waste disposal days and wait until then to dump it.

Always call before hauling your items, as some locations are not open for public dumping, or may not be able to dispose of certain types of furniture.

Pickup Truck Bed Filled With Mattress and Other Junk

Benefits	Things to Consider
Low-cost or free furniture disposal option.	Requires access to a truck.
Allows you to remove furniture at your own pace.	Nearest landfill may be far away or not open to the public.
	Could require multiple trips.

Important Disposal Tip for Old Furniture:

If you're dealing with a particularly bulky piece of furniture, like a large couch, taking it apart can make the disposal process much easier.

How Much Does Furniture Removal Cost?

Trying to budget for your junk removal project? Furniture removal costs can vary greatly from location to location, but the price to get rid of furniture is generally determined by:

The number of items you’re getting rid of.
The total volume of your load.
Whether you use a furniture removal service or dump it yourself.

Costs of Various Furniture Disposal Options

Disposal Option	Cost
Cost to Rent a 20 Yard Dumpster	$447 on average, with prices ranging from $264 to $687.
Cost of a Junk Removal Service	Around $235 for a quarter bedload to $600 for a full bedload.
Cost to Dispose of Furniture Yourself	Furniture disposal costs between $32 - $40 per ton at most landfills. This does not include the cost of a truck rental, gas and time spent hauling the materials.

If you're looking for a more convenient way to dispose of your furniture, a dumpster rental or junk removal service is the way to go. Most junk removal services can handle smaller pickups of one to two items for around $100-150. Junk removal services can also haul a full truckload of furniture, around 15 cubic yards, for about $600.

On the other hand, a 20 yard dumpster can handle up to 20 cubic yards of junk for an average rate of $447. This allows you to get rid of more furniture for less. If you are disposing of multiple large items, or if you’re working on a major junk removal project, the cost of a dumpster rental is often lower than other furniture disposal options.

How much does it cost to dump furniture yourself?

Knowing where to throw away furniture on your own can be a great way to save money on disposal costs. But remember that some landfills and curbside services do not offer furniture disposal. If your local providers do, there may be limits in what furniture they can accept or the number of items they can take each week. Always call ahead to confirm whether your items can be dumped.

Disposal Option	Cost
Leave Furniture at the Curb	From $5 to $50 per item, depending on your area.
Dump Furniture at a Landfill	Between $10-$50 per item at most landfills. This does not include the cost of a truck rental, gas and time spent hauling the materials.

Important Furniture Disposal Tip:

Illegal dumping can harm your local environment and result in thousands of dollars in fines. If you cannot leave your items at the curb or your local landfill, don’t dump them illegally. Enlist the help of a furniture removal or dumpster rental service.

Furniture Donation Options

Wondering what to do with your old furniture without throwing it away? There are several options for donating your items, depending on their condition.

The item can be used as-is, with no need for repairs.
Upholstery is free of major rips, stains and odors.
Wood is free of major scratches or gouges.
The item has never been infested with bedbugs or other pests.

If your old couch didn’t pass the donation inspection, revisit the furniture disposal options above.

Once you’ve inspected your items, here are a few places where you can donate old furniture:

1. Charities and Nonprofits

You can typically donate gently used furniture to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or other charities in your area. Depending on your location, you can find many organizations that accept donations and some that will even pick up the furniture for you. If you’re looking for a place to get rid of furniture charitably, these donation centers usually offer pickup services:

Habitat for Humanity ReStores
Salvation Army (also allows for drop-off)
National Furniture Bank Association (also allows for drop-off in some locations)
Vietnam Veterans Association (small furniture only)
Local furniture banks

These donation centers typically require furniture drop-off:

Goodwill
Local shelters

Important Furniture Donation Tip:

Always call before donating large furniture items, and never dump your items at a donation center without permission. This puts the burden of furniture disposal on the charity if the item cannot be taken.

2. Local Schools, Churches or Community Theaters

If you have old computer desks, tables or chairs in good condition, some local organizations may be able to put them to good use. Many schools, churches and theater departments operate on small budgets, and may be able to use your old furniture for an upcoming event, meeting or show. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask. Give your community organizations a call to see if they have a need for your gently used items.

3. Animal Shelters

If your items are too banged up for charity, some animal shelters accept worn-out recliners, loveseats or couch cushions for their furry residents to curl up in. Call your nearby humane society or shelter to see if your old furniture can make a difference for local animals in need.