5 Sustainable Furniture Removal Ideas that are Eco-Friendly
Do you have old furniture that looks like it's from the '90s? You may not know what to do with it. How can you be sure it is properly disposed of or put to good use and not just added to the nine million tonnes of furniture going into the landfill each year?
Lucky for you, sustainable furniture removal doesn't have to be difficult. Many options are available for furniture removal in an eco-friendly way. Whether it's office furniture or your bed frame that you want recycled, there's a sustainable furniture removal solution for you!
This article will discuss the best sustainable furniture removal ideas that are eco-friendly and will reduce your carbon footprint. We'll suggest ways to donate, recycle, or resell your furniture to have peace of mind when you get rid of it so you can get that new furniture in the new home you just bought!
What are the best sustainable furniture removal ideas?
Here are the best sustainable furniture removal ideas so you can have peace of mind when getting rid of your old furniture:
- Selling online & upcycling
- Donate furniture
- Give it away online
- Trade websites
- Hire junk removal companies
1) Selling online & upcycling
Is your furniture in good condition? If it is, why throw it away? After all, one man's junk can be another's treasure. Consider selling it online.
Here are a couple of commonly known websites where you can sell items for free (I'm sure you've heard of them):
The other option is upcycling, but what exactly is it?
Upcycling is when you take something old and make it into something new. In other words, you reuse material to create a higher-quality product. It's a great way to use furniture that's still in good condition but may need work.
You can use paint, nails and screws, fabrics, and other materials to give the furniture a whole new life. You can even do things like turn a coffee table into a bench, an old bookshelf into a plant stand, or an end table into a dog bed. The opportunities are endless! And upcycling can be a fun and creative way to repurpose old furniture if you have the patience and know-how.
Even if your furniture is not in the best condition and has a couple of scruffs around the edges, consider upcycling and selling it. You'll probably get more money in the end anyway, plus you'll have fun and learn a new skill while doing it!
2) Donate furniture
If you're not ready to sell, why not drop it off at your local charity or business?
Local charities and companies are constantly looking for used furniture, so you may as well not let that opportunity go to waste. Your region/city may also provide a list online where you can see which local business may want the item you no longer need. Take the time to check it out!
At Quagga, we have an initiative called Quagga Gives Back. We get in touch with charities that express that they need bed frames. When a customer wants to return one of our products, we see if a charity nearby can pick it up instead of sending it back to our warehouse.
As a result, we save time, money, and energy by returning the product and giving someone a bed frame who needs it!
Note: When donating, be sure to check the company's guidelines and make sure your piece of furniture is in good shape. For example, some won't accept upholstered furniture with tears or rips. In this case, consider recycling it.
3) Give it away
Credit: Freecycle
Freecycle is a nonprofit where people can give and get items for free within their towns to keep them out of the landfill. We want to keep items out of the landfill as much as possible (especially things like electronics which can release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere). Who doesn't want free stuff while having positive environmental impacts?
4) Trade websites
Websites like Bunz are great places to trade items. You can trade many items, from clothing to houseplants, furniture, and anything. Why not trade your furniture for something else you might use regularly?
5) Hire junk removal companies
So you've exhausted all the options above and don't want to sell, donate, give it away, or trade your old furniture.
Leaving bulky items on the roadside might mean someone will pick it up and sell it or use it for themselves. But if that doesn't happen, when garbage pickup day comes around they will dispose of it, and we want to do what we can to prevent that from happening. That leaves us with one final option: recycling.
The best option is to hire junk removal services. These companies exist for sustainable furniture removal of everything from patio furniture to used office furniture, and lots of things in between. They specialize in the sustainable disposal of unwanted items and will ensure that your furniture goes to a sustainable recycling company.
Here are some popular options:
The nice part is that a junk removal company will get rid of your used furniture and do all the heavy lifting, so you don't have to!
FAQ
What does sustainable furniture mean?
Sustainable furniture makes a positive impact on the environment and people. Unlike fast furniture, it is produced using eco-friendly materials that are abundant, renewable, non-toxic, and energy efficient.
The materials used also provide long-term benefits like consistency in quality and durability, meaning less furniture needs to be purchased over time.
Furthermore, sustainable furniture production conserves valuable resources by reducing waste and emissions. This type of furniture is constructed to last for generations, meaning that it can remain stylish across decades and product lifespans are extended.
By investing in sustainable furniture now, we can save natural resources for those to come in the future.
How do I get rid of furniture?
Getting rid of quality furniture can be a challenge for environmentally conscious people, as throwing away large pieces of furniture is not environmentally friendly. Fortunately, many companies offer services that allow for environmentally friendly furniture disposal.
Depending on their condition, you can donate furniture to local nonprofits or give it to friends and family.
Alternatively, several furniture removal companies make it easy to drop off items for them to recycle. It's also possible to bring unwanted furniture to recycling centers to be recycled, where they will break down the materials and transform them into something new.
Whatever route you choose, ensure your quality furniture finds a way to get reused or recycled; it's the environmentally responsible thing to do!
Conclusion: What are the best sustainable furniture removal ideas?
If you want new furniture, getting rid of unwanted furniture such as office furniture doesn't mean you must dispose of it. There are many sustainable furniture removal solutions, from donating to someone who needs it, giving it away, properly recycling it, or trading it.
Who knows? That old piece of furniture you want to get rid of could be repurposed and reused in a way you didn't even think was possible. You might even have fun disposing of your furniture (like refurbishing) or make some extra cash by selling it!
By doing a little research, you'll be well on your way to finding a solution!
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