[This article originally appeared here in June 2021 and has been expanded and revised.]

If you have used furniture, or own older pieces that are on their last legs, you're likely to be dealing with furniture disposal at some point. 

And, depending on the type and size of the piece of furniture, this can be challenging at best. Unfortunately, it can be a major headache at the worst.

When Your Furniture Has Come to the End of It's Useful Life

Our parents and grandparents will be likely to tell us that "they don't build things like they used to" when it comes to the longevity of consumer goods. And there may be some truth to that sentiment.

So, when it comes to furniture in particular, how long do things last?

According to one article,

"Consider replacing your sofa before the seats start sagging to the point of not supporting you, the fabric has become stained and worn, and the frame is breaking down or squeaking. How long should a couch last? On average, a typical sofa lasts between 7 and 15 years."

And a post at The Spruce gives us this rundown,

"There are several questions to ask that will help you know that it's time to replace a piece of furniture:

• Is the piece of furniture broken beyond repair?
• Is the upholstery stained and threadbare?
• Does the furniture still fit the space where it's used?
• Is the furniture still comfortable to use?
• Have your tastes and needs changed?"

And, if you're wondering how long other specific furniture items should be expected to last before it's time to dispose of them in exchange for something new and exciting, here's a short list:

• Upholstered Chair  -  7-10 years
• Wooden Chair  -  10-15 years
• Dining Room Table  -  15-20 years
• Coffee Tables  -  5-10 years
• Bed Frame  -  15-20 years
• Mattress  -  5-10 years
• Dresser  -  10-20 years
• Desk  -  15 years

Of course, as anyone with older furniture knows, things break, springs get sprung, cushions go flat, and pieces fall off. In addition, furniture gets dated. We want to update the look of our homes and our various rooms within them. And this means having to get rid of the current set of pieces.

So, this begs the question, "What do you do with the old stuff?"

You Have Options for Proper Furniture Disposal 

Essentially, there are two types of used, or old, furniture: pieces that are still usable and those that are not. And it's this basic distinction that determines your options for furniture disposal. 

Sell, Donate, or Give It Away

For those pieces that are still in good condition and fully useable, there really is no good reason throw them out. Selling good pieces can be done online, in garage sales, at consignment shops, and even flea markets. And, if you're lucky, you can get the buyer to come and pick the piece and take it off your hands for you.

In addition, there are numerous outlets for making donations of good pieces of usable - but used - furniture. The well-known resources such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army are great places, as well as Habitat for Humanity and others. 

While donating to a non-profit such as these or a local organization can be a convenient way to dispose of nice and "gently used" furniture, it's not as personal as gifting them. Giving your well-loved old furniture to family or friends can be quite a bit more satisfying and fulfilling than a mere donation.

However you do it, if it's old furniture that still has years of life in it, there's no good reason to send it off to a landfill.

Recycle It - Don't Dump It

For most people, old furniture disposal means junk removal. And, for most people, junk removal means dumping into landfills. And, while this is often the case, it doesn't have to be.

Depending on the type of furniture and the material it's made of, most pieces are recyclable. And, if they're made of solid wood, they're 100 percent recyclable. In fact, any metals, glass, wood, and most plastics found in furniture can be recycled or reused. Even some of the fabrics and foams are reusable. 

Some items and materials can be redirected to "waste-to-energy" facilities that burn waste products at incredibly high temperatures in specialized furnaces that, in turn, generate steam to power electric generators.

The bottom line is that there is almost no piece that cannot be reused, repurposed, recycled, or regenerated as energy.

When Your Old Furniture Isn't Wanted by Anyone!

Unfortunately, there are many times when your old piece of furniture has become so worn and broken down that you cannot sell it, donate it, or even give it away. Perhaps it's an old sofa or loveseat that's so damaged even the dogs won't sleep on it!

Whatever it is and no matter how bad of shape it's in, you still don't have to do the work of loading, hauling, and unloading it yourself. 

Which is really a good thing since most folks really aren't aware of any options for disposal aside from the nearest landfill. While it is true that some municipal waste management handlers will take old, unusable furniture items, you usually have to haul them out yourself. 

Of course, if you don't own a pickup truck or have convenient access to one, then transporting any large furniture item will likely be an insurmountable challenge. 

But even if you do have a truck, do you have the available help to lift and load heavy pieces of furniture?

Not everyone does. And if you're older or live alone, that too can be a problem.

The good news is you don't have to do it alone. Whether you do end up selling, donating, or disposing of your old, unwanted furniture items, it's good to know that you have the nation's top-rated furniture removal and disposal team nearby to do all the heavy lifting for you!

And to that end we have put together this handy "Furniture Removal Checklist" to guide you through the process:

One of the best things about using Junk King for all your furniture disposal needs is that we make it our mission to recycle as much of everything we haul away. And that includes old furniture.

So, partnering with Junk King for furniture disposal as junk removal is a win-win for both you and the environment. 

And it is crucial for the planet, as well, since we are disposing of more "old" furniture each year than the previous year. But this has also meant that more unwanted furniture ends up in landfills though the amount of "durable goods" as the Environmental Protection Agency refers to them that are incinerated for energy recovery has increased. 

In fact, according to the EPA,

"Generation of furniture and furnishings in MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) was 12.1 million tons in 2018 (4.1 percent of total MSW), up from 2.2 million tons in 1960. Wood was the largest material category in furniture, and ferrous metals was the second largest category. Plastics, glass, textiles and other materials were also found in furniture. 

A significant proportion (19.5 percent) of furniture and furnishings was combusted for energy recovery in 2018, but the majority of this product sector was landfilled (80.1 percent)."

Also, less than a third of one percent of furniture and furnishings were recycled in 2018. While that number has increased, we still have a long ways to go to make a significant impact.

No Need to Make Furniture Disposal a DIY Junk Removal

What you really don't want to be stuck with, however, is having to load your own pieces of junk furniture onto the back of truck - assuming you have one to use - and then hauling them yourself. And, in fact, some furniture is so large, bulky, and heavy they are legitimately considered safety hazards when it comes to moving them.

The far better solution is to bring in the services of a professional junk removal team like Junk King. 

In fact, we specialize in furniture removal and disposal. We have both the equipment and the expert staff for quickly and safely removing and hauling off all of your old, unwanted furniture as well as any other junk items you need to get rid of. 

And we are the kings of green and eco-friendly junk disposal, too!

As we pointed out here earlier, it is a core part of our company's mission to recycle as much of everything we pick up on every job. In fact, we are successful at recycling as much as 60 percent of the junk we bring into our sorting facilities. 

Rethinking Furniture Disposal with Junk Removal

Once you decide to have Junk King come and take away that old, unusable or unwanted furniture, the next step is to simply give us a call and tell us about the job.

Keep in mind that, unlike many junk removal companies simply haul everything they pick up to a local landfill, that's not how we do things at Junk King. And, while most of the other guys charge you by weight, at Junk King we only charge by the amount of space your items take up in our truck.

Which is just another reason why Junk King really is the old furniture disposal firm of choice.

Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly waste disposal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of all your junk when you're cleaning up your home.

Whether you need our services for just one, big sofa sectional - or for several pieces of old, large and unwanted furniture pieces, our hauling professionals will ensure that it's all quickly out of your way so that you can get on with your life.

Our teams specialize in residential trash and junk removal. We can be at your house, apartment, or condo in mere minutes, so call us today! Our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion.

One of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we really do recycle as much of the junk material we pick-up as possible. This is because of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service.

If you have questions about what we can do for you, give us a call at 1-888-888-JUNK (5865).