Time for a spring clean? Five ways to dispose of your office furniture
Spring has sprung and many of us are ready for a clear out! We’ve seen a major shift in the way businesses are choosing to operate: remote-first and hybrid working are on the increase, leaving old-style offices in need of a major facelift to support new ways of working. All this change has left many businesses pondering how to dispose of their old furniture. It can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure where to start!
A Good Thing shares five ways you can dispose of your office furniture. Keep your office looking fresh and modern, reduce bulky office furniture waste and contribute to the circular economy.
1. Sell old office furniture
Selling is one the simplest ways to say goodbye to your old furniture: you’ll give it a new life, prevent unnecessary waste and avoid all the hassle of getting it to the tip.
If you're looking to sell your furniture, you can try listing it on online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace. You can also try posting it on local buy-and-sell groups on social media, and even the classifieds in your local newspaper might be worth a try. But while you may make a couple of pounds, it can be quite a headache.
2. Dispose of your furniture responsibly
If selling isn’t feasible for you, you may choose to dispose of your furniture through traditional methods. This typically involves arranging for your furniture to be taken to a local landfill site, either by sorting out transportation yourself or by hiring a skip. While this is not the most sustainable option, it is essential to dispose of your furniture responsibly to avoid further negative impacts on the environment.
You'll need to research your local waste management options and choose the most appropriate for your situation. This may involve finding a licensed waste carrier to transport your furniture or hiring a van yourself to take it to a designated refuse centre. Be sure to follow all local regulations and guidelines, and check that anyone you hire has the correct licences. Unfortunately, there are rogue traders out there who will take your money and your furniture and then illegally dispose of your items through fly-tipping. Exploring recycling could be a better option.
3. Recycle your office furniture
Another way to dispose of your office furniture is to recycle it. Many furniture items (such as desks, chairs, and filing cabinets) can be broken down and recycled into new products. This not only keeps your old furniture out of landfill, but it also helps to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.
To recycle your furniture, you'll need to find a local recycling centre that will accept it. You can often find these centres by searching online or by checking with your local council. Once you've found a centre, you can take your furniture there and they will handle the rest. Some centres may even offer to pick up your furniture for you, so be sure to ask. Sadly, sometimes items sent for recycling can end up being incinerated. So if you’re proud of your green credentials and want to make sure your items have a second life, keep reading…
4. Repurpose or upcycle your old furniture
If you're handy and creative, you may be able to repurpose or upcycle your old office furniture by turning it into something new and useful. Upcycling is a fun and eco-friendly way to reuse your furniture, without the hassle of selling or disposal. Why not give it a try and see what personal touches you can add to your office space using your old furniture?
An old filing cabinet could be repurposed into a bookshelf or a maybe trendy new bar cabinet for Friday ‘wine downs’. An old desk could be transformed into a coffee table or broken down and recreated into an outdoor plant pot or perhaps a bench… the possibilities are endless! Repurposing or upcycling your furniture can save you money, prevent waste and make furniture more circular by retaining ownership and extending its life.
5. Donate unwanted furniture to a local charity
If upcycling is not an option and you want to be sure your items have a great new home, why not donate your unwanted furniture to a local charity? Now, more than ever, charitable organisations are in need of donations of tangible items to support their fundraising efforts.
There are over 412,000 charities registered in the UK all working on amazing missions: donating your unwanted office furniture will help a local organisation in need and will enable them to continue their fantastic work for their beneficiaries. A charity could use your furniture to update an ageing office space, or to refurbish a community room. The most imaginative organisations might even create something new from your unwanted items. By donating your unwanted office furniture to a charity, you're preventing unnecessary waste and doing a good thing!
A Good Thing allows you to list your unwanted office furniture for donation to local charitable organisations using a simple app: it’s as easy as booking a room on Airbnb! The idea is simple: a business has something to spare, a local charity has a need, and A Good Thing makes the match. The charities will even pick up the furniture from your office, making the process convenient and hassle-free.
Feeling inspired?
By choosing a greener solution to managing the disposal of your office furniture, your business can reduce waste and contribute to the circular economy—saving money and reducing its environmental impact at the same time.
Let’s send less to landfill and more to a good cause!
