If you’ve recently purchased a new sofa or dining room table, you may be wondering what to do with the old ones. If you’re planning to throw them out, and you’re not alone. The EPA estimates that about 12.1 million tons of old furniture ends up in landfills every year. So how can you keep your used furniture from becoming part of this troubling statistic?
Here are some tips for giving new life to old furniture.
Donate
Are you holding on to a piece of furniture that you no longer enjoy simply because “there’s nothing wrong with it?” If that recliner or coffee table is in good condition, drop it off at a thrift store like Goodwill. Or consider listing it on a site like Freecycle where people go to find used furniture for free.
Another great option is the Reuse Network which globally connects people in need of affordable furniture with those who want to get rid of it.
Sell
If you have a number of items you want to dispose of, a yard sale or a garage sale is a great way to do that. This allows you to find new homes for unwanted items while generating some extra cash at the same time. Of course, make sure that these items are still in decent condition before selling them.
Recycle
When purchasing new furniture, it’s wise to choose pieces made of recyclable material such as metal or wood. Then when it’s time to get rid of it, all you have to do is bring it to a recycling facility. This minimizes the need to expend energy in creating new products, while cutting down on landfill waste, too.
So before taking your furniture to the nearest landfill, consider one of the above options. And give us a call at JunkCo Albuquerque if you need assistance in disposing of your old furniture.