Should you just throw away old furniture? To answer simply: no. Throwing away furniture should never be an option unless it has been destroyed beyond repair or is infested with some foreign termite that can’t be exterminated. According to Yahoo, “Americans are the number one global trash offenders. Every day, we dispose of approximately 200 million tons of the stuff. Less than one-quarter of it is recycled, leaving the rest for landfills and incinerators.” If you have unwanted furniture, there are many ways to get rid of it without placing it on the curb for the county to throw in a landfill. Remember, someone’s junk is another person’s treasure.
Craigslist
The first place to post your unwanted furniture is Craigslist. You can either post it as a give-away for free or try to make a few bucks off your unwanted stuff. You may be surprised how quickly people jump on the opportunity for free stuff. Another benefit is that you don’t have to transport the furniture you sell.
Garage sale
Garage sales make great ways to rid your house of everything old to bring in the new. Obviously, you’ll want to try to sell the furniture, but if you can’t sell it, you can always donate it.
Goodwill
Donate your old furniture to a local Goodwill. Many of these non-profits will come and pick up any unwanted furniture from your home. When you pass on your furniture to Goodwill, it will in turn provide money to help other people who are in need of food, clothing or shelter.
Pass it on
Think of everyone you know that may need what you’re getting rid of. If you know a couple that’s just starting out in life, they may need a sofa or dinning room table. Post the items on Facebook or your blog to let your circle of friends know about what items you’re trying to get rid of.
When you choose to not throw your old furniture away, you’re preventing carbon emissions, helping with overcrowded landfills and providing someone else with the joy of having nice furniture. If we all did our part, the world would be safer, cleaner and more productive for future generations.
